Phrontis tiarula

Lore & Background

The shell of Phrontis tiarula varies in length from 9 mm to 20 mm. This species is found in the Pacific Ocean, ranging from California to Mexico. These snails are exclusively scavengers, feeding on dead organic matter.

Reader's Guide

Phrontis tiarula, the western mud nassa, is a representative of the Nassariidae family, a group of marine gastropods often referred to as mud snails or dog whelks. Its scavenging habit places it among the ecological recyclers of intertidal and shallow subtidal zones along the Pacific coast from California to Mexico. The species' shell size range of 9 to 20 mm is typical for small nassariids. As an exclusively scavenging snail, it plays a role in cleaning the seafloor of carrion. The species has been documented in taxonomic works on the family Nassariidae and in regional inventories of aquatic invertebrates. Its presence in the eastern Pacific underscores the diversity of nassariid snails in that region.

Did You Know?

• The shell length of Phrontis tiarula ranges from 9 mm to 20 mm.
• It is found in the Pacific Ocean from California to Mexico.
• These snails are exclusively scavengers.
• It belongs to the family Nassariidae, also known as nassa mud snails or dog whelks.