About Nerita peloronta Linnaeus, 1758
Nerita peloronta Linnaeus, 1758, commonly called the Bleeding Tooth, has a shell that is large compared to many other nerite species, growing up to 2 inches in length. The shell is thick with a short spire, and its surface may feature slightly raised spiral ridges. The dark red operculum has a granulated texture on its inner side. Shell color ranges from yellow and reddish to creamy, marked with darker streaks or zigzag patterns. Like many nerites, this species has "teeth" along the columellar edge, but it is set apart by a distinct patch of red coloration located right next to these teeth, which gives the species its common name. This species occurs in intertidal splash zones on hard rocky shorelines that experience regular wave action, across the West Indies, West Florida, Bermuda, and the Caribbean.
