Alder's Necklace Shell

Euspira nitida

Euspira nitida is a small sea snail with a globular shell that can reach a height of up to 16 mm and a width of 14 mm. The shell features a pointed apex and 5 to 6 gently convex whorls, with a smooth and shiny surface that is pale brown-yellow, often stained with orange to red-brown spots arranged in spiral lines. This species can be distinguished from similar ones by its lack of a siphonal canal and the partly covered umbilicus with callus. The shell's color may also show blue-black discoloration in washed-up specimens. This species is commonly found in the sublittoral zone and deeper waters along sandy coasts of the North Sea, extending from France to Norway and into the North East Atlantic, including Iceland. It is also prevalent in the Mediterranean Sea. Euspira nitida thrives in sandy to muddy bottoms and can be encountered at depths ranging from 11 to 400 meters, with most occurrences at shallower depths. As a carnivore-scavenger, Alder's Necklace Shell feeds on small invertebrates. It reproduces through a process where embryos develop into planktonic trocophore larvae before maturing into juvenile veligers. Encountering this species while diving may involve spotting its distinctive shell on sandy or muddy substrates, often in large numbers washed ashore on beaches. The conservation status of Euspira nitida is listed as Not Evaluated.