snails

blue ring topsnail

Scientific name: Calliostoma ligatum

Family: Calliostomatidae

Phylum: Mollusca

Typical size: Shell is 2.5 centimeter in diameter 

Depth range: Up to 30 meters

Description: They have a brown shell with light tan/pink spirals. The inner layer is blue. The actual snail is bright orange/red. 

Habitat and behavior: They live from Alaska to southern California. They eat brown algae, diatoms, ascidians, sponges, bryozoans and detritus.

moon snail

Scientific name: Euspira lewisii

Family: Naticidae

Phylum: Mollusca

Typical size: Shell can be 13 centimeters with the foot length extending to 30 centimeters

Depth range: Known to live in shallow water in the summer (5—20 meters) and move to deeper water in the winter (up to 50 meters)

Description: This massive snail has a large, circular shell and huge foot. The shell is grey or cream in color with a cream colored foot. The operculum is dark brown.

Habitat and Behavior: Moon snails are found in sandy areas, usually somewhat buried in the sand unless they are moving. The mantle and foot sometimes engulf the shell, but when threatened the moon snail can quickly pump water out of the foot and mantle to retract. Moon snails prey on clams and use their radula to drill a hole into clam shells, and suck the insides out over a period of days using their proboscis. Compared to other snails, the moon snail drills a rather large hole in clam shells and can be easily identified. Moon snail eggs are laid in rubber-like collars, made of sand, saliva, and eggs. Oftentimes these egg masses are mistaken for trash on the beach.