The Bruised Nassa shell is so small that it would be very easy to miss on a sandy beach. They only grow to be 3/4 of an inch and this one is about a half inch. Luckily there was no hermit crab inside so I brought it home to get these photos.
I found this tiny shell, measuring about one-half inch in length, while exploring one of the Spoil Islands in Mosquito Lagoon. My face was very close to the ground when I saw this little beauty, which happened to be empty.
The shell below is also a bruised nassa, as far as I can tell. It’s not as pretty and I didn’t collect it because a hermit crab was inside. It’s more worn but has the same shape with the bumpy ridges.
See more Bruised Nassa shells at the Bailey and Matthews museum page.

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