ID please?

[Drewpy]

found this hitchhiker on a SPS coral... What is it? Thanks for the help..

 

[Drewpy]

it is a snail of some sort i know has a shell but has polyp looking things coming out of it too...

 

[arizonaocean]

actually resembles a tiny abalone shell. They are kind of snail like too.

 

[charlesr1958]

A cowry snail, of which there are numerous species with quite a few being predatory and something to be carefull about, If you touch the snail, it should pull back its mantle revealing the shell's coloration/patterns of which then an ID might be possible.

Chuck

 

[Drewpy]

okay it is very small and pearl white with two faint or faded brown stripes...

 

[charlesr1958]

Would need an actual up close in focus photo of the shell to be able to pin down a species. If not, and you find it "on" any coral and the coral is losing tissue, it would be a safe bet that it is not reef safe and should be removed.

Chuck

 

[Lev F.]

Cowrie 100%. Check out its mantle. By the way you described it it seems like a Money Cowrie, one of the reef safe variteties.

 

[arizonaocean]

Nice!

 

[AdidaKev]

I second Money Cowrie, although it'd be easier to tell if the mantle wasn't covering the shell.

 

[The steven liu]

I agree, it looks like a juvenile money cowrie.