animalworld:

CLEAR SUNDIAL SNAIL (Architectonica perspectiva)

©Annelise Fleddum, University of Oslo

One of 4,000 species of mollusk found off Tasmania

Where seen? The delightful living snail are sometimes encountered on our Southern shores. Elsewhere, it is considered moderately common and usually found subtidally on sandy and muddy bottoms, from depths of 10 to 120m, mostly between 10 and 65m.

Features: 5-6cm in diameter. An unmistakable snail, the shell coils form a flat disc-shape with a flat base. The shell is beautifully banded in shades of black and brown. The body is striped too, to match the shell. The operculum is made of a horn-like material.

What does it eat? It is said to eat burrowing sea anemones and sea pens. The mouth region is lined with a tough cuticle as a protection against stings of their prey.

Status and threats: The Clear sundial snail is listed as ‘Endangered’ in the Red List of threatened animals of Singapore. The original shores where they were found have been lost to reclamation.

Fact Source: http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/mollusca/gastropoda/architectonicidae/perspectiva.htm

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