Zebra Nerite, sometimes called the Zebra Snails or Bleeding Tooth relative
Phylum: Mollusca, Class: Gastropoda, Order: Cycloneritida, Family: Neritidae, Genus: Nerita, Species: Nerita versicolor · Neritidae (Nerite family) · Gastropod (univalve snail), whole shell, ovate to globose shape
Species
Nerita fulgurator or Nerita versicolor (likely a Nerite species based on size and pattern)
Shell Type
Gastropod (univalve snail), whole shell, ovate to globose shape
Family
Neritidae (Nerite family)
Size
Approximately 0.5 inches (12-15 mm) in length, which is average for this species. Adults typically range from 0.4 to 1 inch.
Color & Pattern
Distinctive high-contrast pattern featuring irregular dark brown to black zigzag lines, speckles, and bands over a creamy white or yellowish-grey base, typical of intertidal nerites.
Rarity
Common
Habitat
Marine intertidal zones, primarily found clinging to rocky shores, tide pools, and limestone outcroppings just above or at the waterline.
Geographic Range
Widely distributed throughout the tropical and subtropical Western Atlantic, including the Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, Florida Keys, and the West Indies.
Description
A small, sturdy, globular marine snail shell with a low spire and a thick, porcelain-like outer layer. The surface is smooth with faint growth lines, adorned with striking dark zigzags and mottling. The aperture is semicircular with a flattened inner lip.
Key Features
Compact rounded shape, low spire, sturdy calcareous structure, and a bold high-contrast black-and-white patterned exterior with a flattened columellar deck.
Collector Value
Low to moderate commercial value, frequently collected by beachcombers as a charming keepsake rather than traded commercially for high prices. Typically worth less than a dollar individually.
Condition Notes
Good condition, solid and intact with bright, clear natural color patterning. Minor natural wear on the apex, graded as Fine collectibility.
Interesting Facts
Nerites are remarkably resilient marine snails capable of surviving out of water for extended periods by sealing their operculum tightly to retain moisture. They use a rasping radula to scrape microalgae off rocks.
Ecological Role
Plays a vital ecological role as an herbivore, grazing on microscopic algae to keep rock surfaces clean and providing a food source for shorebirds and small predators.
Similar Species
Nerita peloronta (Bleeding Tooth), which features reddish-orange teeth-like projections on the inner lip, and Nerita tessellata (Checkered Nerite), which has a more uniform checkerboard pattern.
Beach Finding Tips
Look along rocky shorelines, jetties, and limestone formations at low tide. Check crevices and areas where waves break against rocks.