I have to bow to Don's call on the mystery slug.  The shell does look like
Smaragdia pulcherrima, but nerites do not typically extend a foot that far
beyond back of the shell.  Instead of sacrificing a part of their foot, they
keep it under the shell.  Heck, I was better off thinking it was a slug!!
Guess I'll stumble over and tell the proud owner of the change of
citizenship of his snail.

Tom E.

-----Original Message-----
From: Conchologists of America List [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On
Behalf Of Don Barclay
Sent: Friday, April 19, 2002 4:27 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [CONCH-L] Mystery Shells


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