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.
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.
