Shark Eye Moon Snail (also known as Atlantic Moon Snail or Shark's Eye)
Phylum: Mollusca, Class: Gastropoda, Order: Littorinimorpha, Family: Naticidae, Genus: Neverita, Species: Neverita duplicata · Naticidae (Moon Snail family) · Gastropod (snail/univalve), whole shell, globular to slightly depressed shape
Species
Neverita duplicata
Shell Type
Gastropod (snail/univalve), whole shell, globular to slightly depressed shape
Family
Naticidae (Moon Snail family)
Size
Approximately 1 to 1.5 inches in diameter, which is small to medium for this species. Adults typically range from 1 to 3 inches.
Color & Pattern
Uniformly grayish-white to tan with a brownish-purple umbilicus area. The surface is smooth and heavily worn, indicating it is sun-bleached and weathered from wave action.
Rarity
Very Common, frequently found washed up on sandy beaches along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts.
Habitat
Found in shallow marine waters, typically inhabiting sandy or muddy intertidal and subtidal zones down to moderate depths where they burrow beneath the sand.
Geographic Range
Western Atlantic from Massachusetts south to Florida, the Gulf of Mexico, and parts of the Caribbean.
Description
A compact, heavy, globular univalve shell with a low spire and a large, smooth body whorl. The surface is mostly smooth due to environmental wear, and the distinct callus covering the umbilicus is visible.
Key Features
Globular shape, low spire, smooth exterior texture, and a distinctive closed or partially filled umbilicus region characteristic of the Neverita genus.
Collector Value
Low commercial or collector value due to commonness and weathered condition, typically valued as a casual beach find rather than a specimen piece.
Condition Notes
Fair condition. The shell is heavily weathered, sun-bleached, and water-worn with loss of original glossy luster and natural color banding, graded as Fair collectibility.
Interesting Facts
Moon snails are predatory carnivores that drill circular holes into the shells of bivalves using an acidic secretion and their radula to consume the soft tissue inside.
Ecological Role
Acts as an important marine predator controlling bivalve populations, while their egg masses—known as sand collars—provide temporary microhabitats and food for other scavengers.
Similar Species
Neverita lewisii (Lewis's Moon Snail) which is typically larger and found on the Pacific coast, and Euspira heros (Northern Moon Snail) which has a more elevated spire.
Beach Finding Tips
Look along high-tide lines on sandy beaches, especially after storms or heavy surf, searching for intact specimens exposed in damp sand or shell piles.