Slipper Shells

Slipper Shell

Crepidula fornicata

Size: to 0.8 - 2 "

Habitat: attached to solid surfaces, often other larger shells

Notes:

Although the dead empty shells superficially resemble bivalves, Slipper Shells are actually extremely flattened snails. The living animal has only a single uncoiled shell, and lives under it attached to a hard surface. A small shelf inside gives these odd animals their name. The illustration shows the shell from above on the left and from below on the right. Slipper shells are quite commonly attached to the undersides of Sea Scallops, often in stacks. Filter feeders.

Slipper Shell
Slipper shells hitching a ride on a scallop
Herb Segars Photography

There are many types of worms, but most species are either too small or too secretive to be found by casual scuba divers. Nudibranchs are shell-less snails that resemble worms, while Teredos are nearly shell-less bivalves that also resemble worms.

Printed from njscuba.net