Image of sharp nassa

Description:

This small Sharp Nassa, Nassarius acutus, was found among Sargassum at Port Aransas, Texas. The shell was about 10 mm long (it can reach up to 15 mm, 3/5 in). It normally lives in sandy bottoms from below the tide line to about 110 m (360 ft). As other members of the family Nassariidae, it feeds on carrion and on the egg cases of other mollusks. It occurs from Florida to Texas. This shell had a small hermit crab (not shown in the photos), and was photographed under a microscope. For more information on this species, see the Encyclopedia of Texas Seashells, p. 224.