Image of emerald nerite

Description:

Several specimens of the beautiful little jewel, the Emerald Nerite, Smaragdia viridis Linnaeus, 1758), were collected by Roe Davenport at South Padre Island, Texas. These tiny nerites can reach up to 8 mm (1/3 in). The shell color of fresh specimens matches that of seagrass blades where the snail lives and grazes on in estuaries. Because of their small size, these shells are difficult to find (although you think their color would contrast with the sand, if found empty); I haven't found one yet myself. Read more about this species in Tunnell et al. (2010) Encyclopedia of Texas Seashells, p. 128, and Tunnell, Barrera and Moretzsohn (2014), Texas Seashells, a Field Guide, page 36.