Need snail ID please

skozzy1 · 01/16/2008, 10:44 PM

Found this little guy after months of no new additions. Only comes out after lights out.

demonsp · 01/16/2008, 10:48 PM

OMG kill whatever that is that you took a pic with a great cameraand it looks outta this world.

adtravels · 01/16/2008, 10:48 PM

pretty cool that looks like a sponge growing on its shell, no id though

skozzy1 · 01/16/2008, 11:26 PM

Its a gelatinous like substance on the outside, but yet a hard shell.

pagojoe · 01/16/2008, 11:32 PM

LOL that's a pretty tall order to ID a snail when you can only see his snooter and a couple antennae... That said, it's either a trochid or a chilodontid (until recently, lumped with the trochids). My first guess is Euchelus atratus. If it is this species, the operculum (trap door on the snail) will look like an amber disc, with a dark trapezoidal marking in the middle (which is the color of the foot showing through). They are often found covered with sponge, and though they are supposedly algal grazers, I've often found them in association with sponges. There are several trochids which look similar, with the same coloration on the head, foot, and antennae. They include Diloma samoaensis, Monodonta radula, and probably several that I'm not thinking of. Take him out and see if he doesn't show the dark marking on the operculum like I mentioned for Euchelus atratus.

http://www.gastropods.com/5/Shell_8265.html

http://www.gastropods.com/9/Shell_24929.html

http://www.gastropods.com/6/Shell_9956.html
(the top photo..the bottom is a different species)

Whichever it is, it should be reef safe.

Cheers,

Don

skozzy1 · 01/17/2008, 09:45 AM

bump please

skozzy1 · 01/17/2008, 09:52 AM

Oops, sorry Don, I didnt see your post above.
I will try tonight to catch him tonight and check it out further.
Whats the deal with the jelly substance. My guess is that it tastses nasty to predators.

zotzer · 01/17/2008, 02:19 PM

That is awesome!!
Tracy

pagojoe · 01/17/2008, 03:33 PM

Yeah, I don't know where the jelly comes from. I suppose it's a coating made by the snail that covers the sponge, but I've never really known. You can find some specimens of Euchelus atratus that have only the sponge coating, and some that have the sponge and the jelly, all under the same rock. If you find one that looks like the ones in the link I posted, they are probably dead and inhabited by a hermit crab. The black example farther down the page is more typical than most of the shells in that top link.

Cheers,

Don

tami1024 · 01/17/2008, 04:40 PM

Pretty cool, whatever it is!

01/16/2008, 10:44 PM	#1
skozzy1 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Ketchikan Alaska Posts: 132	Need snail ID please Found this little guy after months of no new additions. Only comes out after lights out.

01/16/2008, 10:48 PM	#3
adtravels you cant buy blue fingers Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 2,542	pretty cool that looks like a sponge growing on its shell, no id though __________________ False facts are highly injurious to the progress of science, for they often endure long; but false views supported by some evidence, do little harm, for every one takes a salutary pleasure in proving their falseness. Current Tank Info: 90 gallon 36x24x24 reef

01/17/2008, 04:40 PM	#10
tami1024 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Jupiter Fl Posts: 430	Pretty cool, whatever it is! __________________ Reefer addict!! Current Tank Info: 29 gal with,1 multi rock, multiple mushrooms,1 rock nem, a few snails, 1 harlequin star,2 kenya trees,1 scallop and 1 mandarin goby named Gray!! 75 gal has 1 rock nem, 1 GBTA, 1 brittle star, 2 damsels and 1 tom clown

01/16/2008, 10:48 PM	#2
demonsp Moved On Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: el paso tx Posts: 7,634	OMG kill whatever that is that you took a pic with a great cameraand it looks outta this world.

01/16/2008, 11:26 PM	#4
skozzy1 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Ketchikan Alaska Posts: 132	Its a gelatinous like substance on the outside, but yet a hard shell.

01/16/2008, 11:32 PM	#5
pagojoe Team RC Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Conroe, TX Posts: 2,761	LOL that's a pretty tall order to ID a snail when you can only see his snooter and a couple antennae... That said, it's either a trochid or a chilodontid (until recently, lumped with the trochids). My first guess is Euchelus atratus. If it is this species, the operculum (trap door on the snail) will look like an amber disc, with a dark trapezoidal marking in the middle (which is the color of the foot showing through). They are often found covered with sponge, and though they are supposedly algal grazers, I've often found them in association with sponges. There are several trochids which look similar, with the same coloration on the head, foot, and antennae. They include Diloma samoaensis, Monodonta radula, and probably several that I'm not thinking of. Take him out and see if he doesn't show the dark marking on the operculum like I mentioned for Euchelus atratus. http://www.gastropods.com/5/Shell_8265.html http://www.gastropods.com/9/Shell_24929.html http://www.gastropods.com/6/Shell_9956.html (the top photo..the bottom is a different species) Whichever it is, it should be reef safe. Cheers, Don

01/17/2008, 09:45 AM	#6
skozzy1 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Ketchikan Alaska Posts: 132	bump please

01/17/2008, 09:52 AM	#7
skozzy1 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Ketchikan Alaska Posts: 132	Oops, sorry Don, I didnt see your post above. I will try tonight to catch him tonight and check it out further. Whats the deal with the jelly substance. My guess is that it tastses nasty to predators.

01/17/2008, 02:19 PM	#8
zotzer Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 346	That is awesome!! Tracy

01/17/2008, 03:33 PM	#9
pagojoe Team RC Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Conroe, TX Posts: 2,761	Yeah, I don't know where the jelly comes from. I suppose it's a coating made by the snail that covers the sponge, but I've never really known. You can find some specimens of Euchelus atratus that have only the sponge coating, and some that have the sponge and the jelly, all under the same rock. If you find one that looks like the ones in the link I posted, they are probably dead and inhabited by a hermit crab. The black example farther down the page is more typical than most of the shells in that top link. Cheers, Don