Atlantic Auger - What's Inside the Shell

Yesterday, I went to the beach and picked up shells, including some Augers I found, and left them setting overnight in fresh water. Today, while cleaning them I found two with residents in them. I'd rather that hadn't happened, but they were laying away from the water on the beach.

Terri at si.northcarolina.edu wrote:
The auger shells have hermit crabs in them, and they're not the original occupants. They moved in after the auger (which is a snail-like animal) died and left the shell behind.
Terri K. Hathaway
Marine Education Specialist
North Carolina Sea Grant
http://www.ncseagrant.org/

I've reduced the size of the pictures to thumbnails, and by clicking on the image a new window will open and you can see image enlarged to 500 pixels.

Here's one of the close up shots, where you can see its little eyes.


Another closeup of the Auger, click on image for 500 px image

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The part of the creature's soft tissue is exposed which it normally uses to move itself around, like an arm. However, when it senses potential predators are around, it withdraws within its shell and closes.
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Interesting... this little guy has claws on its front appendages, *smile* though from the top, he reminds me of a tiny squid.
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