spp. / Gastropod Sanibel Island, FL Dec. 16, 2009 Finding these little shells was a challenge, they are only up to 1.4 inches. I noticed they were often found in certain areas of the beach; fortunately, one of those areas was right by our hotel!
These Rock-burrowing mollusks have a shell with a rough set of ridges that they use to grind holes in solid rock, a pretty good way to protect themselves! Clams are filter feeders. These animals can live in the rocks up to 8 years. When they die, they leave an empty hole that can be used by crabs, sea anemones and other animals (called "metabiosis".
Gastropod Sanibel Island, FL Dec. 16, 2009 I wish I could say I found this shell, but someone else did and I photographed it. These snails are responsible for many of the clam shells that wash up on the beach with a beveled, round hole in them. The snail drills a hole with its radula, injects an enzyme to digest the clam inside the shell and then it eats the "clam soup". Gastropod means "stomach footed"; these animals have just one shell.
