FIND YOUR GEMS & FOSSILS

The shark eye, Neverita duplocatus, is a member of the Naticidae family of marine predatory mollusks, also known as moon snails. These snails are found in nearly three hundred different species worldwide.

The shark eye is a gastropod, which is Latin for "stomach foot," and has a single shell with a single opening. They are distinct from bivalves with two shells, like oysters and clams. Its fleshy mass spilling out of the shell can be up to a foot in diameter, while its shell can have a diameter of up to five inches.

The animal is typically three to four times larger than the shell when filled with water. Amazingly, the shark eye can cram all of its body parts back into its shell as it expels the water. It then uses the operculum, which is Latin for "door," to close the opening.