Carribean snail ID please

carribeanlovers

In Memoriam
I have various snails that I obtained in Puerto Rico and I can't seem to find identification for one of the species of snails that I have. Unfortunately I don't have a pic that I can show so I will describe them. They are about the size of a pencil eraser or smaller and they are black and white zebra patterned and the snail itself is black.
 
carribeanlovers,

I can refer you to:

Caribbean Seashells, A Guide to Marine Mollusks of Puerto Rico and Other West Indian Islands, Bermuda, and the Lower Florida Keys by Warmke & Abbott, Livingston Publishing Co, c. 1962.

Although long out of print, you can often find this book at a local library or, if you are lucky, at a used book store.

If you can describe the shell more clearly, and if it is a particularly common species, myself or another member might be able to pinpoint it. Without a picture, this is a very difficult approach. :(

Cheers,
Bob
 
Hey carribeanlovers,

That sounds just like a common species of nerite snail in that area. Try looking up florida nerites on google and see what you see.

Good luck,
Kevin
 
I concur with KMK
Sounds like a snail of the genus Nerita. Did you collect them from the rocks along the shoreline? These snails can often be found in the splash zone, above the waterline. They are characterized by large, squarish "teeth" on the inner lip. If you see a splash of reddish color on the "teeth", it maybe Nerita peleronta, the Bleeding Tooth Nerite. The Baby's Teeth Nerite, Nerita tessellata, lack the redish color on the teeth.

These guys are snallish and round like a ball. Often clinging very hard to the rocks in the splash zone.
 
oama said:
I concur with KMK
Did you collect them from the rocks along the shoreline? These snails can often be found in the splash zone, above the waterline. They are characterized by large, squarish "teeth" on the inner lip. If you see a splash of reddish color on the "teeth", it maybe Nerita peleronta, the Bleeding Tooth Nerite. The Baby's Teeth Nerite, Nerita tessellata, lack the redish color on the teeth.
These guys are snallish and round like a ball. Often clinging very hard to the rocks in the splash zone.

This describes the snails more clearly then what I first submitted. We did get them in the "splash" zone. And, I'm pretty sure they are all babies. Thanks!
 
Thanks for the info!! Now that I know the name I was able to check it out and you guys were right. Attached is the pic I found and it is the snails I have. I also found another pic with the other snails I got too (just for you to see).:D
 
carribeanlovers said:
Thanks for the info!! Now that I know the name I was able to check it out and you guys were right. Attached is the pic I found and it is the snails I have. I also found another pic with the other snails I got too (just for you to see).:D

This is the pic of the checkered/zebra nerites that I have mine are the black and white.
 
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