California Horn Snail

Description:

The shape of the shell is turriform and is about 1 inch in length.

Habitat:

Central California, USA to Baja California Sur, Mexico Salt-marsh dominated estuaries, living in brackish water This spotting was done at the Bolsa Chica Wetlands, an estuary and bird sanctuary located next to the Pacific Ocean.

Notes:

These snails form the first part of a three-part parasitic life cycle of at least 18 trematode species that infect the snails. The trematodes then move on to fish and other marine life where they create cysts, and finally end up in birds that eat the second intermediate hosts. Source all info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cerithidea_...