Bleeding Tooth or Rock Snail (often recognized as a heavily spined murex or rock shell)
Phylum: Mollusca, Class: Gastropoda, Order: Neogastropoda, Family: Muricidae, Genus: Indeterminate or Morula/Thais relative, Species: Unspecified rock snail · Muricidae (Murex family) · Gastropod, whole shell, spiral shape with heavy nodulose spines
Species
Coralliochila or similar muricid / thaidid rock-dwelling gastropod
Shell Type
Gastropod, whole shell, spiral shape with heavy nodulose spines
Family
Muricidae (Murex family)
Size
Approximately 1 to 1.5 inches, which is typical for small intertidal rock-dwelling predatory snails.
Color & Pattern
Mottled grayish-white background with dark brown to purplish-brown accents and prominent chalky white nodes and spines. Natural condition with some light weathering.
Rarity
Common
Habitat
Intertidal and shallow subtidal rocky shores, coral reefs, and tide pools, often clinging tightly to rocks in high-energy surf zones.
Geographic Range
Widespread across tropical and subtropical marine waters, commonly found in the Indo-Pacific or Caribbean depending on the exact species match.
Description
A rugged, heavily armored gastropod characterized by its compact spire and dense array of blunt, tubercules and spiny nodes. The shell's robust structure helps it withstand heavy wave action in its intertidal home.
Key Features
Compact spiral whorls, heavy knobby protuberances, thick outer lip, and a heavily sculptured exterior designed for wave resistance.
Collector Value
Low to Moderate. Mostly valued by casual beachcombers and beginner shell enthusiasts rather than advanced specialist collectors.
Condition Notes
Fair to Good condition; intact overall structure with some natural wear, tip erosion, and minor detritus adherence, typical of beach or intertidal finds.
Interesting Facts
Members of the Muricidae family are voracious carnivorous predators that drill holes into the shells of other mollusks using a specialized radula and acidic secretions.
Ecological Role
Acts as an active marine predator helping to control populations of barnacles, mussels, and other herbivorous or sessile intertidal organisms.
Similar Species
Other rock-boring snails, drupes, and small murex species within the families Muricidae and Rapaninae.
Beach Finding Tips
Look along rocky coastlines, around tide pools, and in shell drift lines deposited at the high tide mark after stormy weather.