Northern Moon Snail
Neverita duplicata · Also known as: shark eye, Atlantic moon snail
Smooth “shark eye” shells of Mid-Atlantic beaches. Predatory snails that leave neat drill holes in clam shells.
Quick facts
| Group | Gastropod / snail |
|---|---|
| Likelihood nearby | ★★★★☆ |
| Habitats | Ocean beach, Coastal bays, Inlet, Assateague State Park, Assateague National Seashore |
| Seasons (this coast) | year-round |
How to recognize them
- Round, glossy shell with a depressed “eye” (umbilicus) at the center of the underside.
- Colors range gray to tan; live animals have a large fleshy foot for plowing sand.
Biology notes
- Hunts buried clams, drilling a countersunk hole with its radula and acid secretions.
- Lays sand-collar egg masses that look like rubbery doughnuts on the beach.
Where to see them around Ocean City
- Ocean City and Assateague beaches—empty shells and sand collars in the wrack.
- Bay flats where clam shells show circular drill holes (moon snail signatures).
When to look
- Shells year-round; sand collars most often in warmer months.
Viewing tips & etiquette
- A perfect round hole in a clam shell usually means a moon snail meal.
