Lewis’ Moon Shell, Neverita lewisii

Lewis’ Moon Shell, Neverita lewisii, Size Progression. Proceeding counterclockwise – 9.8 cm (3.9 inches) x 8.3 cm (3.3 inches);  5.9 cm 2.3 inches) x 4.5 cm (1.8 inches); 2.9 cm (1.1 inches) x 2.3 cm (0.9 inches); 2.3 cm (0.9 inches) x 1.9 cm (0.7 inches). Shell provided by the commercial fishermen of the greater Los Cabos area, Baja California Sur, August 2008.

Lewis’ Moon Shell, Neverita lewisii. Shell provided by the commercial fishermen of the greater Los Cabos area, Baja California Sur, August 2008.Size: 5.9 cm (2.3 inches) x 4.5 cm (1.8 inches).

Lewis’ Moon, Neverita lewisii. Shell provided by the commercial fishermen of the greater Los Cabos area, Baja California Sur, August 2008. Size: 9.8 cm (3.9 inches) x 8.3 cm (3.3 inches).

The Lewis’ Moon, Neverita lewisii (Gould, 1847), is a gastropod mollusk that is a member of the Naticiae Family of Moons. They are also known as the Western Moon Snail. They are large, solid, shells that consist of four to five whorls, with the body whorl making up almost the entire shell mass. The exterior is mostly smooth, but sometimes marked by gray growth lines. The exterior of the shell is yellowish gray to tan or brown in color; the interior is porcelaneous and white, often with brown blotching. The operculum is made of a thick horn-like material. The Lewis’ Moon Shells reach a maximum of 16.6 cm (6.5 inches) in length and 14.0 cm (5.5 inches) in height.

Lewis’ Moons reside over and within sand and mud substrate in mud flats from the intertidal zone to depths of 50 m (165 feet). They range from Canada to Magdalena Bay, Baja California Sur along the central and northwest coasts of Baja. They are not found in the Sea of Cortez.

Synonyms include Natica lewisii and Polinices lewisii.