Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia - teensy snail

[alcina]

This bright little guy (1.5 cms?) was cruising along under a ledge yesterday in about 12m:

Anyone know what he is?

 

[LeslieH]

That one's pretty well known. It's Epitonium billeeanum, usually found on or searching for it's food, Tubastrea. Body color matches the coral and so do the eggs which are left on the coral so the juveniles can feed as soon as they hatch. It has a long proboscis which it sticks down in the center of the polyp and slurps away until all the tissue is gone. Now that Tubastrea been introduced to the tropical Atlantic I wonder how long it will be until some bright boy decides to import E. billeeanum to control it. Shades of the australian rabbit.....

 

[alcina]

Thanks, Leslie! First time I've noticed this little guy

 

[Rick Murchison]

So many snails... so little time!
You're a jewel, Leslie
Thanks.
Rick