Gulf Rock Snail

[RealReefHobbyist]

Anyone know what this guy is? Pics are top side and bottom side.

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

Based on the fact that it looks like it has two halves to its shell, I'd say either a thorny oyster (Spondylus sp.) or a Jewel Box Clam (taxonomic family Chamidae) - I'm leaning toward Jewel Box Clam, but I can't tell for sure from the pics. Regardless, it's a harmless filter-feeder.

 

[RealReefHobbyist]

It actually doesn’t have 2 halves. The top side of the shell comes up to a point. The bottom side is soft tissue. Seems to be a snail of some kind.

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

It actually doesn’t have 2 halves. The top side of the shell comes up to a point. The bottom side is soft tissue. Seems to be a snail of some kind.

If you're sure it's a snail, then the leafy texture around the edge would indicate that it's a murex snail of some kind (so most likely predatory on other mollusks - snails and bivalves).

That said, I'm not aware of any muricid snails that would look like this.

 

[RealReefHobbyist]

Check out this beauty growing on the muratic cured rock. As well as some coralline algae.