Eggwhite
moon snail
Polinices
albumen
Family Naticidae
updated
Aug 2020
Where
seen? This flat moon snail with a U-shaped depression on the underside is
often seen on Cyrene Reef on the sand bar. It has also been seen in a few of our other sandy shores. Elsewhere, it is found
in clean sandy bottoms from shallow subtidal area to a depth of about
70 m. It is also known as Neverita albumen.
Features: 4-6cm. Shell smooth glossy, thick heavy,
semi-spherical (wider than long), very flat with an almost flat spire.
Shell pattern white
at the spire, uniform colour elsewhere: white, cream, pale yellow to brown
and orangey brown. On
the underside, a deep U-shaped depression. Operculum smooth, made of a thin horn-like material, reddish or
yellowish brown. Body huge, opaque white and when expanded
it does resemble the albumen of a hard boiled egg. Tentacles short, white. |
Cyrene Reef, Jun 12 |
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| Human uses: Where common, it is
harvested for food and for the shell. In Thailand, commonly collected
by fishing nets from depths of 2 to 10 m. Known also to be sold as
food in the markets of Kyushu (Japan). |
Changi, Jan 10 |
|
Cyrene Reef, Jul 12 |
| Eggwhite
moon snails on Singapore shores |
| Other sightings on Singapore shores |
Changi, Aug 18
Photo shared by Loh Kok Sheng on facebook. |
Changi, Apr 09
Photo shared by Loh Kok Sheng on flickr. |
Changi, Apr 09
Photo shared by Loh Kok Sheng on flickr. |
Lazarus Island, Oct 24
Photo shared by Loh Kok Sheng on facebook. |
Lazarus Island, Oct 24
Photo shared by Loh Kok Sheng on facebook. |
|
Cyrene Reef, Nov 17
Photo shared by Toh Chay Hoon on facebook. |
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| Links
References
- Tan Siong
Kiat and Henrietta P. M. Woo, 2010 Preliminary
Checklist of The Molluscs of Singapore (pdf), Raffles
Museum of Biodiversity Research, National University of Singapore.
- Abbott, R.
Tucker, 1991. Seashells
of South East Asia.
Graham Brash, Singapore. 145 pp.
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