Miniature Moonsnail
Distribution: Maine to Florida to Texas to Brazil. Size: 6 to 8 mm
Description: Color grayish, band near suture and based with reddish-brown flammules, body whorl with broad band of brown and gray maculations; shape ovate, not flattened; sculpture smooth, porcelaneous with fine axial growth lines; body whorl expanded; aperture broad, semilunar with a thin outer lip; umbilicus almost entirely covered by a callus, but with a small opening.
Habitat: Inlet areas. T. pusilla is usually collected alive from shoreline to a depth of about 42 m (138 ft). Shells collected at depths from 0 to 130 m (426 ft). Remarks: T. pusilla is often confused with young Neverita duplicata; however, the operculum of N. duplicata is corneous. One of the most common naticids found on the Texas coast. See Andrews (1977); Ode (1982b, 1995a). Synonym: Natica pusilla Say, 1822.