Zebra
moon snail
Tanea
areolata
Family Naticidae
updated
Aug 2020
Where
seen? Sometimes seen on our Southern shores, this fast
moving moon snail is seen near coral rubble and living reefs. It was previously known as Natica areolata.
Features: 2-3cm. Shell smooth thick spherical
(not flat) with the spiral tip sticking out a little. Shell pattern brown with
spirals of white zig-zag lines. On
the underside, a small circular depression. Operculum plain pearly white with a yellow smudge where the whorl starts, a pair of spiralling
grooves on the outer margin.
Foot plain white with a dark bar on the back portion, the front portion
beige with three white bars. Tentacles short, white with dark tips.
Snail takeaway? Some have been seen 'dragging' a small snail shell behind them attached
to the foot. Is it taking the meal away to some other place to eat it in safety? |
Sisters Island, May 08 |
Dragging a tiny snail shell at the tip of the foot.
|
Small depression on underside.
Operculum pearly white with yellow smudge.
St John's Island, Aug 05
|
*Species are difficult to positively identify without close examination.
On this website, they are grouped by external features for convenience of
display.
Zebra
moon snails on Singapore shores |
Other sightings on Singapore shores |
Big Sisters Island, Dec 08
Photo shared by Toh Chay Hoon on flickr. |
Big Sisters Island, Jan 23
Photo shared by Jianlin Liu on facebook. |
St. John's Island, Aug 23
Photo shared by James Koh on facebook. |
Seringat-Kias, Nov 14
Photo shared by Loh Kok Sheng on facebook. |
Cyrene Reef, Jul 10
Photo shared by Neo Mei Lin on her
blog. |
|
Cyrene Reef, Aug 12 |
Photo shared by Loh Kok Sheng on flickr.
|
|
|