Another snail ID if possible please

charlesr1958

New member
Since these are THE most common snails found on the seagrass blades here, and my noting that they are more inclinded to graze "film" aglae, I thought they would be the best choice for those of you who keep seagrass and have problems with such film algae growing on the blades. The specimen shown is not at its adult size, I've seen them about twice that size but rarely.

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Chuck
 
I'm working on it. Is it for sure a Trochus, with the thin disc operc, and not an Astralium with the Turbo-type operc?



Don
 
Thanks Don, I don't believe they are an Astralium as even the largest of them remain very cone shaped. Am asking because I hope this year will see me shipping a number of live snails out to where others can breed them and get them into the hobby and cut back a bit on the collection of wild specimens.

Oh, and if you have time, can you pop in on Eric Borneman's forum at marine depot? Theres a thread trying to ID a snail that consumes Acropora tissue.

Chuck
 
Uh oh, looks like you took your pics down. Anyway Chuck, it looks like it's a juvenile Tectus pyramis. The thing that bothers me is that the nodules are lined up into rows, and they usually aren't on that species. Tectus fenestratus DOES usually line up like that, but it has a row of nodules at the base that makes it look like it isn't sharp edged, while yours looks very sharp and angular. I've found similar shells in Samoa, and questioned whether they were variations of one of those species, hybrids between the two, or something else entirely. I checked Poppe's new Philippine shell book, and it doesn't look much like anything in there other than the ones I mentioned, and the same goes for Springsteen & Leobrera. If it's really that common, it should be there for sure. The only other thing that throws me off is the "crinkles" that are slanted across the whorls on the lower part of the shell. That's typical of several species of Astraea, but I've never seen it on an Indo-Pacific trochid...that's why I asked you about the operc, but I think I can see the hermit crab's legs in your shell, so you may have to catch a live one to verify which type of operculum it has. When you catch another live one, can you post pics for me?

Thanks,



Don
 
Sorry Don, have to make a slight addition to my hot link protection and will have the photos back up shortely. This is a live snail specimen and I think it will most likely remain a mystery unless I can send you some shell examples? If so, email me the address ( chuck@chucksaddiction.com ) and I'll send them off soon.

Chuck
 
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