Is this a snail or a slug?

July 4, 2001
From: Jim Rigdon

This creature was found in a friend's 180 Reef tank. We are not sure what it is. Can you aid with indentification?

Thanks,
Jim

jim@rigdon.cc

Rigdon, J., 2001 (Jul 4) Is this a snail or a slug?. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/4701

Dear Jim,
This is a Moon Snail (Family: Naticidae). I'm not quite sure why they are called moon snails, perhaps because some have large white shells. Most are white but a few, like yours, have brightly coloured animals. Their main claim to fame is that they feed on other shelled molluscs, both snails and bivalves, by boring a very neat hole through their shells.

Have a look at the top of this page for a bit more information.
Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2001 (Jul 4). Comment on Is this a snail or a slug? by Jim Rigdon. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/4701

Factsheet

Naticidae - naticids, moon snails

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