[mobrien]

Wow Just happened to be looking at my reef and geuss what crawls out of the rocks. pic below. This snail is 2 inches long and about an inch wide and is purple in color. cannot believe I have never seen it before.

[Rin]

Very pretty, but I can't quite make him out. Some snails are preditors, so be careful. He also might be a cone of some sort and thus deserves a measure of respect. You don't want to pick him up the wrong way, if he is.

Can you get a shot of the other side of him?

[mobrien]

No he moves really fast and disappeared as quickly as he came. I know it is a cowrie I just have to find out what kind.

[Rin]

Yeah, a cowrie was my first reaction, too. Cowries are a little more symetircal across the vertical and horizontal axis, though. This one is not. Actually he looks a lot like the cones shown on this page:

http://grimwade.biochem.unimelb.edu.au/cone/index1.html

It would be kind of exciting to know that you have a deadly venomous snail in your collection. Too bad your fish wouldn't see it the same way.

I'll check a couple of the cowrie sites...

[mobrien]

I am really hoping it is not a deadly venomous cone, but it would be just my luck. I had a large Nasso tang die about two months ago but have had no other fatalities before or since.

come on and be a cowrie baby

[Rin]

This is the best cowrie site that I've ever come across. It's very comprehensive. Unfortunately, none of the cowries listed here come close to your little darlin.

http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/cowries/CGDP.html

If you get a chance next time...give the little bugger a nudge and then post the pic of his shell. That way we can get a good look at his home.

[mobrien]

Man I still cant nail it down. It doesnt look like any cones I've researched. Th shell does not look like a fully developed cowrie. It kinda looks like a cock roach with a snails body

[ravenmore]

Run these pics by Dr. Shimek. He has a forum at Reef Central. You have to be a member for his forum to show in the forum list though. (sorry to "plug" another board but Dr. Shimek is a great resource).

Also, be VERY VERY VERY carefull if you handle this snail. If it is a cone snail it can pack a potent venom that can be lethal to humans. I think I read somewhere that a much higher percentage of people envenomated from a cone snail die as compare to those envenomated by cobras.

Keep us posted, I'd like to know what is is myself.

-Mike

[mobrien]

I have posted it to dr. ron but have not gotten a responce yet. I have no intention of handling it until I get an ID. I have reseached a number of cones and could not come up with a match. but I will let you know as soon as I do.

thanks mike

[mobrien]

got some more pics

[SPasse]

Ravenmore,

Don’t worry about mentioning resources of another board.

I often consult his forum for questions that I get stumped on.

Regards,

Scott

[nuff]

that's a bubble or Elephant Limpet. Harmless and very neat to have. Don't destroy it. It will harm nothing....it grazes on algae.

[mobrien]

turns out to be a type of olive shell. Dr ron is checking on what it feeds on. I'll keep you posted

[srgtkoons]

Man I am getting scary, first thing i thought of was an olive, then i second guessed myself when i saw the pic with you holding it, I find olives all the time in NC with really cool shiny shells, brownish in color and buried in the sand. Thats a pretty neat lookin critter.