Jellyfish with a snail shell?

**Fishkeeper** · 06-18-2012, 03:56 AM

We just got back from Port Aransas, and there were some strange animals washed up on the shore. They had lavender-colored snail shells, but the bodies looked nothing like snails. They looked like five or so clear bubbles, connected in a bean shape, with one end at the entrance of the shell. On the underside of the body was three rows of lavender paddle-things, kind of like the fins along the under side of a a shrimp's tail. The creatures came in several different sizes, always with an appropriately-sized shell. I also found some of the bigger ones, only about an inch long, without shells, but seemingly undamaged. If I put one of these in the water, it just floated, like a jellyfish. Ay ideas what these were?

**cardiocentric** · 06-19-2012, 04:08 AM

was this in FL?
purple sea snail perhaps?
http://www.google.com/imgres?num=10&...6&tx=140&ty=73

**Fishkeeper** · 06-19-2012, 05:10 AM

No, this was in Texas, but that's definitely what it was! So the foot-thing is mucus-covered bubbles, and these are carnivorous snails. They eat Portugese Man-'O-Wars, apparently. Those Man-'O-Wars really hurt if they tag you! I scooped one up on a shovel, and the very tip of one of its tentacles clipped me on the elbow. Owwww! Felt like a beesting. I would really hate to bump into all of one!