ID spiny Cowerie, reef safe?

[Timanator]

Found this little guy, about the size of a pencil eraser. Is he reef safe?

 

[Timanator]

Also the spikes seems to be soft. They go flat if you disturb the snail. Another top down shot

 

[philter4]

I don't know the species, but the spikes are actually part of the mantle and are soft. If you could post a photo showing the shell it may help id the animal.

 

[kmk2307]

Nice. I don't know what it is other than a cowrie but it should be fine. The only things I would worry about it bothering are other snails and tubeworms.

 

[greenbean36191]

It's actually not a cowrie, but an ovulid though I'm not sure which one. These guys are coral predators.

 

[Timanator]

Correct you are GreenBean36191. Looks like I got one from Sydney!

http://www.seaslugforum.net/showall.cfm?base=ovulids

 

[Drock169]

I thought those guys were carnation predators

 

[pagojoe]

Some of them are carnation predators. Some feed on other softies and gorgonians. There are a bunch of similar species too, and some with virtually identical shells but very different animals and different feeding habits. It's made ID to the species level, and even the genus level, very difficult. A new book showing both the living animals and the shells will be out in early 2009.

Cheers,



Don

 

[Timanator]

Thanks everyone. Looks like he will be taking the Nemo highway.