Stramonita haemastoma (Linnaeus, 1767) Florida Rocksnail

    Because of their sedentary nature and preferred habitat, the Florida Rocksnail is commonly found encrusted with small barnacles, oysters or other fouling organisms. The specimen illustrated below was a colorful standout among its peers hosting not only a bryozoan colony but a living pair of the invasive barnacle Megabalanus coccopoma [Titan Acorn Barnacle].

    On granite boulder of the south St. Johns River Jetty, Mayport Naval Station Beach, Jacksonville, Duval County, Florida 3/8/2008 (about 50 mm.)