What's this?

[Skittl1321]

Many of the things we took pictures of on our dives (we could only take the camera on two dives- it doesn't have good depth rating...) because another diver grabbed our arm and excitedly pointed something out. We only later found out that the things in the pictures were brittle starfish, drumfish, trumpet fish or splendid toadfish...

So most of the mystery objects are identified, but this one isn't. Does anyone know what I took a picture of?


Also, watch out for the El Jefe fish. We saw this thing on over half our dives!

 

[Skittl1321]

(Not sure why the picture is so small- if you click it it gets bigger.)

 

[MMM]

It is a Flamingo tongue...

 

[Skittl1321]

Thank you!!!!

 

[uncfnp]

I believe it is a Flamingo Tongue snail

Scientific name: Cyphoma gibbosum

 

[CT Sean]

Here's a good site for fish/invertebrate/coral identification:

Caribbean Reefs - Angelfishes - Butterflyfishes - Surgeonfishes - Damselfishes - Chromis - Hamlets - Jacks - Porgies - Mojarras - Chubs - Spadefishes - Tarpons - Barracudas - Bonnetmouths - Bonefishes - Mackerels - Needlefishes - Halfbeaks - Groupers

 

[sharky60]

the cool thing about the Flamingo Tongue is that the spotty pattern you see is actually the snail wrapping it's body around it's shell.

The shell is actually quite bland, an off white with a little brownish/yellow darkening around the hump in the shell.

If they get far enough out of the shell, you can even see their eye stocks

 

[jbark]

Its a beautiful creature, thanks for posting.
Jerry

 

[agilis]

They are also sea fan eaters. They are usually found on sea fans because sea fans and other gorgonians are all these things eat.

 

[Steve_C]

They are colorful too. Very pretty.