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Project Noah Nature School
Polinices sordidus
A mass of jelly in the shape of a curled sausage and about the size of a cinnamon doughnut. The jelly appeared clear except for minute yellow specks (eggs) suspended in the jelly. The jelly mass seemed to be flatter on one side. http://southernshores.auz.info/beachcomb...
mangrove mud flats
These are jelly egg cases of the Sordid Sand Snail. Found quite a few of these sausage jellies on the mangrove flats at the high tide mark. I also found a few clam shells with clearly defined holes on the shell on the same strip of beach near the mangroves. At the time I did not know that there was a story relating the two. I also saw snail trails one the muddy sand in the area ! Please see web link for the "sordid" story about the snails that come out of these jelly masses. Sausage jellies are seen all over the world from a few different species of sand snails.... It's a pity I did not take photos of the clam shells and the snail trails- maybe next time..I've learnt that it is important to note that there may be signs/clues of vital interactions between many creatures in the one area.
Spotted on Jan 11, 2012
Submitted on Jan 11, 2012
12 Comments
So cute ^^
Fantastic Leuba!
I have added a spotting of a clam shell with a hole drilled by one of these snails-
http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/904...
Yes argybee my predjudice for vegetarians is totally subjective and based on the ease of breeding Phasmids over mantids. It extends to chrysomelidae over coccinelids and now it seems, mollusks. Secretly I do admire carnivores and am one myself.
Lovely spotting and info. Thanks for sharing.
martin - can they not remain admirable? or is it a bit like phasmids vs. mantids?
:)
thanks argybee !
Thanks for letting me know about the link martinl - sorry, here's a better reference, the one I wanted to post:
http://wiki.trin.org.au/Mangroves/Conube...
Thanks argybee. It seems that Leuba, your notes are completely accurate and my admiration for moon snails was misplaced!
It would seem bivalves - heck this one martin http://www.mesa.edu.au/habitat/chall03.a...
The link certainly says the sordid snail is predatory, but on what? I thought these 'moon' snails are grazers but this one is certainly not. I also thought the tiny holes drilled into clams are by the smaller dog whelk group http://soer.justice.tas.gov.au/2003/imag.... Thanks for the info. Nice pic too=)
Amazing links.
As kids we just thought they were good for beach wars. I will have to read the full story now.
Good spot.