![Gastropods: Gastropoda, Invertebrates, LIFE STAGES, less than 1 inch, Laz Ruda, Lazaro Ruda Wildlife Photographer, MARINE LIFE, Mollusks: Mollusca, PHOTO TYPE, night dive, SIZE, macro, TheLivingSea.com, West Palm Beach, [LOCATION], blackwater, larvae, macro, marine, ocean, underwater, underwater photo](https://oceanwildlifephoto.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/180820-185524-0047.jpg)
This unidentified marine gastropod (ie. conch, etc.) is in its second stage of development known as a veliger. At this free-swimming stage it will begin to grow an apparent shell structure. This is by far the smallest creature I have encountered on my blackwater dives measuring in at less than 2mm in size. Learn more about the life cycle of gastropods.