Flamingo Tongue Snail

Description:

Photo take at -30 ft on a coral reef, This beauty is moving on a gorgonia which is its favorite food as well. It is about 3 cm long and can be observed attached to gorgonians upon which it exclusively feeds. Unlike nudibranchs, flamingo tongue snails have a shell; however, the shell is typically not visible in living animals due to the mantle flesh covering it. When alive, the snail appears yellow-orange with irregular shaped spots ringed in black. However, the mantle can be retracted, exposing the shell.

Habitat:

Found on shallow waters coral reefs from Florida all the Caribbean sea to Brazil

Notes:

This snail is extremely over-collected and must be protected.