Moon Snail

Common Name: Moon Snail

Scientific Name: Neverita lewisii

Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family: Animalia, Mollusca, Gastropoda, Neotaenioglossa, Naticidae

Diet: Bivalves, clams, oysters and other mollusks, young feed on algae

Habitat: Mud flats, low intertidal zones

Range: Pacific Coast; British Columbia to San Diego, California

Identification: Large foot to shell size; smooth, globe-like, brownish-white shell

Reproduction: ”Sand collar” eggs, males are smaller than females, Hermaphrodite (has both female and male reproductive organs)

Behavior: Usually partially buried to plow along in the sand or mud for foraging and protection (can also suck its large foot into its shell)

Predators: Sea stars