Choice A is correct. Let $x$ represent the number of rabbit snails that Naomi bought. It’s given that each rabbit snail costs $dollar sign 8$ . Therefore, the total cost, in dollars, of the rabbit snails that Naomi bought can be represented by the expression $8 x$ . It’s also given that each nerite snail costs $dollar sign 6$ , and that Naomi bought $2$ nerite snails. Therefore, the total cost, in dollars, of the nerite snails that Naomi bought is $6 left parenthesis 2 right parenthesis$ , or $12$ . Since Naomi bought both the rabbit snails and the nerite snails for a total of $dollar sign 52$ , the equation $8 x + 12 = 52$ can be used to represent the situation. Subtracting $12$ from both sides of this equation yields $8 x equals 40$ . Dividing both sides of this equation by $8$ yields $x equals 5$ . Therefore, Naomi bought $5$ rabbit snails.

Choice B is incorrect. This is the total cost, in dollars, of the nerite snails that Naomi bought, not the number of rabbit snails.

Choice C is incorrect. This is the cost, in dollars, of one rabbit snail and one nerite snail, not the number of rabbit snails that Naomi bought.

Choice D is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.