Haminoea vesicula (Gould 1855)

How to Distinguish from Similar Species: Similar species would include H. virescens, which has a larger shell, usually over 15mm long, thicker, and whitish and more opaque. Its aperture is more than half the diameter of the shell at the point where the shell is widest.

Abundant on mud flats and sandy-mud areas of bays, and on boat floats.

Geographical Range: Alaska to Gulf of California

Depth Range: Found intertidally to subtidally

Shell usually less than 15mm long. It is whitish or greenish yellow, with sunken spire. Shell too small for entire body to fit in. The shell aperture, at the point where the shell is widest, is less than half the diameter of the shell. Size to 24mm. How to Distinguish from Similar Species: Similar species would include H. virescens, which has a larger shell, usually over 15mm long, thicker, and whitish and more opaque. Its aperture is more than half the diameter of the shell at the point where the shell is widest.

Biology/Natural History: This species burrows just below the surface of the sand or mud. Predators include the nudibranch Navanax inermis. Eggs are deposited in a thick, coiled, deep-yellow egg string about 10 mm wide and up to 20 cm long.

Ketchikan, Alaska to Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico; 0–10 m.