Sorry I haven't had time to read my e-mails, or I would have
been more timely only this ID.  The "slug" is a Stomatella, and
looks to be Stomatella impertusa.  There are a couple of good
photos of live animals of this species in Okutani's "Marine
Mollusks in Japan," including one photo where the snail is
autotomizing a large part of its foot.  When you expose these
guys, they will be perfectly still for a moment, and they don't
even look like anything with a shell.  After a few moments
the will seek a new hiding place, and will speed from their
spots so quickly that you still won't think they are snails.  As
you pick them up, many will drop off most of the foot, leaving
the beautifully-colored shell plainly visible.

Cheers,


Don

----- Original Message -----
From: "Paul Monfils" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, April 18, 2002 10:13 PM
Subject: Re: Mystery Shells


My impression is that there is a shell. In the lower picture, at about
center, you can see what looks like an apex, with just a few whorls
surrounding it, and apparent markings radiating out from the apex. The
posterior apex, few whorls, and large body whorl just looked to me like some
kind of Smaragdia or other small nerite. Lamellaria and Stomatella are
certainly also viable possibilities!  In Lamellaria the shell is internal,
and the shell of this critter does seem to be covered over with
semi-transparent tissue.

Paul M.