5 Astounding Sea Snails l Remarkable Variety

We sincerely hope that you thoroughly enjoy this article about 5 Astounding Sea Snails. Many people dismiss these creatures as uninteresting or unappealing. But in reality, nothing could be further from the truth, where these amazing animals are concerned.

Notably, these amazing denizens of the depths have been around for an incredible span of time. Their earliest known ancestors originated around 500 million years ago. The species we see today represent the end product of that evolution, and thus deserve appreciation.

Armored Snail

Armored Snail Facts

Leading off this article about 5 Astounding Sea Snails is the mind-boggling species appropriately known as the Armored Snail.
The attention-grabbing term for this animal serves as one of the common names for a truly remarkable variety of sea snail. But that’s not its only name. In fact, this incredible marine gastropod mollusk also goes by several other common names.
These alternate terms by which it’s known include the titles of the scaly-foot snail, the sea pangolin, and the scaly-foot gastropod. Among professional researchers it goes by yet another title. That’s the tongue-twisting term of Chrysomallon squamiferum.
The truly remarkable sea creature also represents an only recently discovered species. The quite startling discovery of this quite fascinating creature also occurred entirely by accident. That fortunate discovery occurred in the year 2001.
Amazingly, this incredible snail actually evolved a method of utilizing iron sulfide in its shell. As a result, it literally produces armor-plated shells. The United States military is currently attempting to employ armor-developing techniques inspired by it.
Due to the extremes of its native environment, the IUCN presently lists the Armored Snail as Endangered. This regrettable status appears on the organization’s Red List of Threatened Species. Sadly, that could also be downgraded in the near future.
For the moment, its most pressing threats appear to consist of potential habitat loss. The leading culprit in this remains deep-sea mining efforts. It must nonetheless also be considered to be facing at least some risk due to the effects of climate change.

Armored Snail, Chrysomallon squamiferum — Source: https://bit.ly/2PDQd1Q Photographer: Patrick Guilhem

Armored Snail Physical Description

The shell of the truly astounding sea creature that men call the Armored Snail also amazes due to its complexity. Nature never fails to amaze with its adaptability. That’s partly due, in this case, to the fact that the shell appears to be made of three separate and distinct layers.

First off, the inner layer of the intricately designed protective casing of the animal has its own distinctive characteristics. That’s because it’s formed primarily of the a mineral called aragonite. It’s a form of calcium carbonate, common to many corals and mollusks.

Secondly, the middle layer possesses its own remarkable nature. For one, it remains entirely organic in nature. This section of the shell also measures as the thickest of the three layers. More precisely, this portion averages about 150 micrometers in thickness.

Finally, the outer layer represents the most unusual, and fascinating, of the three layers. It’s also the one of greatest interests to scientist, for many reasons. This part measures roughly 30 micrometers thick. It’s also the component composed of those unique iron sulfides.

The shell of the Armored Snail also displays a rounded shape. Despite its other attributes, it’s a tiny species. It has a maximum known shell width of 1.8 in (45.5 mm). The shades of each layer vary, with the outer layer mainly being various shades of brown in color.

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Order: Neomphalina
Family: Peltospiridae
Genus: Chrysomallon
Species: C. squamiferum

Armored Snail Distribution, Habitat, and Ecology

Quite sadly, the remarkable Armored Snail appears to inhabit an incredibly restricted range of the world. To date, the only known zone of habitation for this truly impressive marine gastropod remains restricted to only very specific sections of the Indian Ocean.

Humans discovered the creature living at the bases of black smokers, in the kara hydrothermal vent field. This lies on the Central Indian Ridge. Later, researchers discovered a small population living along the Central Indian Ridge, near the Mauritius Islands.

Unfortunately, the extreme nature of its habitat makes acquiring in-depth knowledge knowledge of this amazing species quite difficult. As an understandable result, researchers still know very little about most aspects of its life. But, a few things are currently known.

For one, the incredibly fascinating Armored Snail lives at extreme depths. In point of fact, the only known populations reside at a depth of roughly 7,490 ft (2,420 m) below the surface of the ocean. The entire area it lives in only consists of roughly 25,700 sq ft (2,387.6 sq m)

This animal is also one of only a few to possess a method of feeding known as chemoautotrophy. This process involves acquiring nutrition from highly specialized symbiotic bacteria. These further break down the ferrous iron in the water for nourishment.

Queen Conch

Queen Conch Facts

Next up in this listing of 5 Astounding Sea Snails is the beautiful species descriptively known as the Queen Conch.
The fascinating term perfectly serves as the currently accepted common name of a particularly beautiful variety of sea snail. The name of the animal itself, however, remains a source of some confusion, and even a small amount of controversy.
That’s due to the fact that the mollusk has gone by other scientific names in the past. The original official name for the creature was Strombus gigas. But, that later changed to the distinctive term Lobatus gigas. Now, though, it stands at Aliger gigas.
Its first official recognition as a distinct species occurred in the year 1758. This took place at the hands of the renowned Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus. His choice of name for the creature held true for more than 200 years, until modern times.
Quite fortunately, for the moment, the Queen Conch does not appear on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. This situation exists because it appears to still have a sufficient population base. That, however, could easily change in the future.
That’s due to the fact that many experts consider it to be facing multiple threats to its safety as a species. One of these consists of over fishing through commercial activities. Yet another remains habitat loss. But its greatest threat remains climate change.

Queen Conch, Lobatus gigas — Source: https://bit.ly/3eeI0Ni Photographer: Daniel Neal CC License: https://bit.ly/30RN6LI

Queen Conch Physical Description

The actual body of the amazing Queen Conch attains a highly respectable size, compared to related creatures. The overall length, though, varies significantly, even among individuals, as it moves. This obviously makes precise measurements difficult to acquire.

The body has some distinct physical characteristics, however. For one, the soft body possesses a head provided with an elongated snout. This also serves as the home of two eyestalks. The animal displays two tentacles, and a single, large part known as the foot.

But the shell of the fascinating Queen Conch represents its most fascinating feature. This varies in size, since it grows as the animal itself does. The shells of adults range from 5.9 – 12.2 in (15 – 31 cm) in length. These also reach an average weight of about 5 lb (2.3 kg).

This portion of the impressive gastropod also has a beautiful appearance. It generally grows in a strong spiral shape. A mature specimen usually displays 9 – 11 whorls. The exterior typically presents shades of tan or brown. But the inside appears a glossy orange or pink.

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Order: Littorinimorpha
Family: Strombidae
Genus: Aliger
Species: A. gigas

Queen Conch Distribution, Habitat, and Ecology

The magnificent Queen Conch inhabits a comparatively broad swathe of the world’s oceans. That area’s quite complicated, though. More specifically, the northern edge of this range includes the Western Atlantic coasts of both North America and Central America.

Meanwhile, the southern edge of its range includes the Caribbean tropical area. Unconfirmed reports also extend that range to the northeastern shores of Brazil, in South America. This zone of habitation also includes numerous islands where it appears.

Wherever individuals appear within this range though, these have specific requirements for their choice of habitat. Specimens typically reside in warm shallow water. This region usually consists of regions with a depth measuring no more than 70 ft (21 m).

The stunning Queen Conch also evolved as benthic in nature, meaning it lives on the ocean floor. Most commonly, it prefers to inhabit such regions as areas of seagrass beds. Yet it also often appears among coral reefs and various sandy stretches where these are unavailable.

While some related creatures evolved as hermaphroditic in nature, that’s not the case for this one. This member of its Family possesses two sexes, and reproduces via internal fertilization. After mating, the female lays as many as an astounding 300,000 eggs.

Flamingo Tongue Snail

Flamingo Tongue Snail Facts

The third entry into this compendium of 5 Astounding Sea Snails is the remarkable creature known as the Flamingo Tongue Snail.
The highly descriptive term excellently serves as the accepted common name for a remarkable variety of sea snail. This marvel of Nature also goes by another name, however. Among researchers, it’s known by the name Cyphoma gibbosum.
Regardless of which name one uses, it remains a most fascinating creature. It also represents one of only eleven recognized species within its genus. Yet, even among its brethren this fabulous marine gastropod mollusk stands out from the crowd.
That’s partly due to the fact that it’s one of the most colorful of them all. This wondrous animal also distinguishes itself in yet another manner. That’s because it remains the most numerous of its various relatives present within its native range.
Sadly, though, this awesome creature once existed in much greater numbers. But, human tourism vastly reduced its population base throughout most of its natural territory. Divers and snorkelers often take the seemingly empty shells.
For the moment, though, the Flamingo Tongue Snail does not appear on the IUCN Red List. Many experts nonetheless consider it to be at risk. While it still faces the dangers posed by tourists, its major threats now consist of habitat loss and climate change.

Flamingo Tongue Snail, Cyphoma gibbosum — Source: https://bit.ly/2Y6gXy9

Flamingo Tongue Snail Physical Description

Perhaps most notably, describing the appearance of the Flamingo Tongue Snail is quite complicated. That’s due to the fact that its physical appearance varies significantly between when it is still alive, and immediately after its passing. That’s due to a unique characteristic.

Firstly, it itself remains a physically small specimen. In fact, the maximum measured body length only equals 1.7 in (4.3 cm). But an average length for the body is much smaller. The shape of the remarkable shell itself also typically develops as elongated in structure.

Secondly, while still living, the species generally displays a brilliant orange and yellow. It also often displays random black markings. Furthermore, these colors actually come from live tissue covering the shell itself. In this respect, the Flamingo Tongue Snail truly stands apart.

Thirdly, this covering can be withdrawn at will, but that rarely occurs while the creature lives. When the incredible creature dies, the colors fade. Finally, the smooth underside of the astonishing shell most commonly displays combinations of shades of pink and white.

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Order: Neotaenioglossa
Family: Ovulidae
Genus: Cyphoma
Species: C. gibbosum

Flamingo Tongue Snail Distribution, Habitat, and Ecology

The Flamingo Tongue Snail inhabits a moderately broad range of the marine waters of the world. The exact area in which it appears likely comes as no great surprise, however. More precisely, it primarily lives in the warmer waters of the western Atlantic Ocean.

This amazing gastropod appears in a region that begins off the northern coast of the country of Brazil, in South America. From there, this marvelous denizen of the ocean appears as far north as the coast of the state of North Carolina, in the United States, in North America.

The range of the awesome gastropod also extends westward as well. Though populations remain smaller, it appears in the waters around Bermuda and the Lesser Antilles. Scattered specimens also appear in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea.

Throughout the entirety of its range, the gorgeous mollusk remains consistent in its choice of habitat. For one thing, the tiny beauty only lives in very shallow areas. In point of fact, the maximum depth at which any specimen has ever been spotted only measured 95 ft (29 m).

The diet of the aptly-named Flamingo Tongue Snail remains consistent with related species. The animal lives almost solely among coral reefs and feeds exclusively upon the flesh of soft coral. The species also evolved an almost symbiotic relationship with this life form.

The perfectly evolved creature of the sea feeds by scraping the fresh polyps off of the coral, finding hem easy prey. As most things in nature, this process is virtually perfect. The process does not harm the original coral, which subsequently regrows more polyps.

Sea Butterfly

Sea Butterfly Facts

Appearing next among these choices for inclusion this article about 5 Astounding Sea Snails is the amazing Sea Butterfly.
It must be pointed out that the appealing term serves well as the collective common name for an entire Order of creatures. Its scientific name, however, remains that of Thecosomata. But, no matter what name you use, some things stand out.
Firstly, the members of this awesome group comprise small species of pelagic sea snails. Secondly, in its case, the members of the group evolved to swim freely around the oceans. Thirdly, this represents a remarkable group of gastropod mollusks.
But that’s not their only claim to fame. More distinctly, the different member species evolved several completely unique adaptations In many species in this quite remarkable grouping of creatures, the gills and shell disappeared completely.
Many of the various forms of Sea Butterfly additionally distinguish themselves in yet another manner. That’s in the fact that, unlike numerous animals today, most of these denizens of the oceans remain quite numerous in numbers.
As a result, none of the species in the group hold statuses of concern on the IUCN Red List. These animals must nevertheless be considered to be at some risk. Their greatest dangers most likely consist of habitat loss and the ongoing effects of climate change.

Sea Butterfly, Thecosomata — Source: https://bit.ly/2NhpA0Y Photo Credit: Blue Water News

Sea Butterfly Physical Description

Since the descriptive term of Sea Butterfly applies to a large number of species, one fact remains unavoidable. That’s the fact that physical variations in appearances quite naturally exist. However, the different forms naturally share some characteristics.

Among those mutual traits is sheer size. In point of fact, all currently known examples of these creatures develop as comparatively small. That’s because an average body length only equals about 0.4 in (1 cm). Individuals have a mucous web that extends about 2 in (5 cm).

Among those species still possessing a shell, the animal appears almost completely transparent. Despite the transparency, the shells consist primarily of calcium carbonate. The shells further vary greatly in shape between species, and even individuals.

Finally, the foot of the Sea Butterfly itself constitutes its most memorable feature. This has also evolved. In this case, the natural process of evolution turned it into a pair of lobes resembling wings. These the individuals use to propel themselves slowly through the water.

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Order: Heterobranchia

Sea Butterfly Distribution, Habitat, and Ecology

Given that Sea Butterfly forms the name of an entire Order, yet another fact remains understandable. The various species contained within it appear across a broad range of the world. In point of fact, its members inhabit the great majority of the world’s marine waters.

More precisely, however, this enormous territory extends from the tropics to both poles. Yet, its population density does vary from region to region. Not surprisingly, the greatest concentration of its numbers occurs in the temperate and tropical areas of the globe.

Most regrettably, researchers still know very little about most portions of the lives of these remarkable gastropods. Amazingly, much of that centers around one aspect of its life. The majority of the limited confirmed data about the creature concerns its feeding habits.

First of all, as a general principle the fabulous Sea Butterfly remains a passive feeder. In the case of these gastropods, this mainly consists of plankton. In point of fact, they do so almost exclusively. But, a few individuals occasionally engage in active feeding.

Regarding its choice of precise habitat, however, most experts remain somewhat less certain. But, those specimens reliably studied lived at depths of no more than 82 ft (25 m). These generally stayed deeper by day, and migrated to the surface at night.

Giant Triton

Giant Triton Facts

The fifth and final creature appearing in this article about 5 Astounding Sea Snails is the awesome Giant Triton.
The fully deserved term for it serves as one of the common names for a particularly impressive variety of sea snail. However, this marvel of Nature also goes by another, similar common name. That’s the equally fitting name of the Triton’s Trumpet.
Among professional researchers, though, this remarkable gastropod holds yet another title. That happens to be the somewhat hard to pronounce Charonia tritonis. But, by whatever label one uses, it’s an amazing member of its genus.
This wondrous creature also holds a status apart from many of its brethren. That’s because, unlike many related species, it appears to be maintaining a sufficiently stable population base for the moment. This fortunate situation extends throughout its range.
As a result of this, the IUCN currently has no listing for the beautiful Giant Triton. Any such listing would appear on the organization’s Red List of Threatened Species. The impressive gastropod does, however, presently appear in the Catalogue of Life.
It nonetheless remains considered to be at some potential risk, in the minds of many researchers. This consideration partly occurs due to the dangers of habitat loss. But, it’s greatest threat, like most species, comes in the form of ongoing climate change.

Giant Triton, Charonia tritonis — Source: https://bit.ly/2NfXJA1 Photographer: James St. John CC License: https://bit.ly/2zHvoiQ

Giant Triton Physical Description

The magnificent Giant Triton easily earns its distinctive common name. That’s due to the fact that it ranks as one of the largest species of mollusk within its native range. In point of fact, this remarkable ocean creature often attains a length of as much as 24 in (60 in).

Yet, the sheer size of its amazing shell isn’t the only visually impressive characteristic of its protective covering. That holds true due to the fascinating design of this natural defensive structure. Evolution blessed it with a marvelous spindle-shaped appearance.

The exact coloring of this also varies quite significantly between individual specimens of the unique animal. The basic pattern consists of varying shades of white and a yellowish-brown. The precise combination, however, remains unique to each example of Giant Triton.

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Order: Littorinimorpha
Family: Charoniidae
Genus: Charonia
Species: C. tritonis

Giant Triton Distribution, Habitat, and Ecology

The breathtaking Giant Triton also stands out from similar gastropods in terms of its territory. Thus, it holds another advantage over related species. That’s true because of the fact that this member of its amazing genus inhabits a somewhat broad range of the world.

In point of fact, the truly mesmerizing mollusk exists in many of the temperate and tropical waters throughout the world. Yet, it appears to be the most prevalent in the Indo-Pacific region. This presence even includes the region of the globe known as the Red Sea.

Although its range of habitation is relatively extensive, its choice of habitat remains quite restricted. Like many of its kind, the species primarily prefers to make its home in areas of coral reef. Nonetheless, individuals will also occasionally move into open areas.

The incredible Giant Triton also ranks as a highly active predator. Its primary prey usually consists principally of other mollusks and starfish. It remains one of the few species known to actively prey upon the large and highly venomous Crown-of-thorns starfish.

This fascinating species also evolved remarkable strategies and tools for its feeding efforts. It will frequently utilize its file-like radula to saw open the protective armor of its prey. Then it uses its saliva, which contains a paralytic agent, to immobilize the hapless victim.

Unlike most similar species of gastropod, this one did not evolve as a hermaphrodite. It reproduces via sexual means, with the newly born larvae being planktonic in nature. These float on the ocean currents for about three months before settling on the ocean floor.