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Victaphanta atramentaria
A rugged carnivorous hunter snail of about 60mm long extended. Glossy black asymetric shell with small white disc at the centre. Distinctive red or vermilion foot. Bluish grey eye stalks. Textured and contrasted pattern on the body.
Found in moist conditions on a muddy path on the side of Mt Erica at about 1200 metres. Recent heavy rains probably sent them hunting for prey. Baw Baw National Park.
Also called the 'Orange Foot Snail' and 'Gippsland Black Snail' the Victaphanta atramentaria is an air-breathing carnivorous land snail endemic the Gippsland area of Victoria in south-eastern Australia.
It actively hunts snails, slugs worms.
3 Comments
Oh yeah...
Victaphanta sounds like an orange drink to have while mowing the lawn.
I'd like to see what happens when it meets a Leopard slug (also predatory)
Cool spotting, Mark. I like it's name. Sounds like such a bad boy :)