Flamingo tongue snail: Difference between revisions
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==Distribution== |
==Distribution== |
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This ''Cyphoma'' is distributed in the [[Mid-Atlantic Ridge]]. It is the most common of several species in the genus which live in the tropical waters of the Western [[Atlantic Ocean]], including the [[Caribbean Sea]], the [[Gulf of Mexico]] and the [[Lesser Antilles]]. It can also be found from [[North Carolina]], the [[Bermuda]]s to Northern [[Brazil]]. |
This ''Cyphoma'' is distributed in the [[Mid-Atlantic Ridge]]. It is the most common of several species in the genus which live in the tropical waters of the Western [[Atlantic Ocean]], including the [[Caribbean Sea]], the [[Gulf of Mexico]] and the [[Lesser Antilles]]. It can also be found from [[North Carolina]], the [[Bermuda]]s to Northern [[Brazil]]. |
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==Habitat== |
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==Life habits== |
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| ⚫ | The flamingo tongue feeds by browsing on the living tissues of the soft corals on which it lives. Common prey include ''[[Briareum]]'' spp., ''[[Gorgonia]]'' spp., ''[[Plexaura]]'' spp., and ''[[Plexaurella]]'' spp. Adult female ''C. gibbosum'' attach eggs to coral which they have recently fed upon. After roughly a week and a half, the larvae hatch. They are planktonic and eventually settle onto other gorgonian corals. Juveniles tend to remain on the underside of coral branches while adults are far more visible and mobile. Adults scrape the polyps off the coral with their radula, leaving an easily visible feeding scar on the coral. However, the corals can regrow the polyps, and therefore predation by ''C. gibbosum'' is generally not lethal. |
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==Shell description== |
==Shell description== |
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The shell of this species is white with no markings at all except sometimes a yellow tinge at the margins. The shell is between 18 mm and 44 mm long, and vaguely resembles the shell of a [[cowry]]. |
The shell of this species is white with no markings at all except sometimes a yellow tinge at the margins. The shell is between 18 mm{{fact}} and 44 mm long,{{fact}} and vaguely resembles the shell of a [[cowry]]. |
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The maximum recorded [[gastropod shell|shell]] length is 38 mm.<ref name="Welch 2010">Welch J. J. (2010). "The “Island Rule” and Deep-Sea Gastropods: Re-Examining the Evidence". ''[[PLoS ONE]]'' '''5'''(1): e8776. [[doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0008776]].</ref> |
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==Description of the live animal== |
==Description of the live animal== |
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When it is alive, the snail appears bright orange-yellow in color with black markings. However, these colors are not in the shell, but are only due to the thin flaps of live [[mantle (mollusc)|mantle]] tissue which usually cover the shell. The mantle flaps can be retracted, exposing the shell, but this usually happens only when the animal is attacked. |
When it is alive, the snail appears bright orange-yellow in color with black markings. However, these colors are not in the shell, but are only due to the thin flaps of live [[mantle (mollusc)|mantle]] tissue which usually cover the shell. The mantle flaps can be retracted, exposing the shell, but this usually happens only when the animal is attacked. |
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==Ecology== |
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Minimum recorded depth is 0 m.<ref name="Welch 2010"/> Maximum recorded depth is 29 m.<ref name="Welch 2010"/> |
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| ⚫ | The flamingo tongue feeds by browsing on the living tissues of the soft corals on which it lives. Common prey include ''[[Briareum]]'' spp., ''[[Gorgonia]]'' spp., ''[[Plexaura]]'' spp., and ''[[Plexaurella]]'' spp. Adult female ''C. gibbosum'' attach eggs to coral which they have recently fed upon. After roughly a week and a half, the larvae hatch. They are planktonic and eventually settle onto other gorgonian corals. Juveniles tend to remain on the underside of coral branches while adults are far more visible and mobile. Adults scrape the polyps off the coral with their radula, leaving an easily visible feeding scar on the coral. However, the corals can regrow the polyps, and therefore predation by ''C. gibbosum'' is generally not lethal. |
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==Survival status== |
==Survival status== |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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* [http://www.gastropods.com/2/Shell_442.shtml Gastropods.com : ''Cyphoma gibbosa''; accessed : 11 November 2010] |
* [http://www.gastropods.com/2/Shell_442.shtml Gastropods.com : ''Cyphoma gibbosa''; accessed : 11 November 2010] |
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[[Category:Ovulidae]] |
[[Category:Ovulidae]] |
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Revision as of 23:23, 28 January 2011
| Flamingo tongue snail | |
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| Cyphoma gibbosum feeding on a soft coral. The animal's siphon is visible at the top, the tip of the tail is visible at the bottom. A large feeding scar is visible as a brown stripe on the coral. | |
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| Species: | C. gibbosum
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| Binomial name | |
| Cyphoma gibbosum (Linnaeus, 1758)
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The flamingo tongue snail, scientific name Cyphoma gibbosum, is a species of small but brightly-colored sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Ovulidae, the cowry allies. Although the live animal is brightly colored, that color is only in the soft parts; the shell itself is plain white.
Distribution
This Cyphoma is distributed in the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. It is the most common of several species in the genus which live in the tropical waters of the Western Atlantic Ocean, including the Caribbean Sea, the Gulf of Mexico and the Lesser Antilles. It can also be found from North Carolina, the Bermudas to Northern Brazil.
Shell description
The shell of this species is white with no markings at all except sometimes a yellow tinge at the margins. The shell is between 18 mm[citation needed] and 44 mm long,[citation needed] and vaguely resembles the shell of a cowry.
The maximum recorded shell length is 38 mm.[2]
Description of the live animal
When it is alive, the snail appears bright orange-yellow in color with black markings. However, these colors are not in the shell, but are only due to the thin flaps of live mantle tissue which usually cover the shell. The mantle flaps can be retracted, exposing the shell, but this usually happens only when the animal is attacked.
Ecology
Minimum recorded depth is 0 m.[2] Maximum recorded depth is 29 m.[2]
The flamingo tongue feeds by browsing on the living tissues of the soft corals on which it lives. Common prey include Briareum spp., Gorgonia spp., Plexaura spp., and Plexaurella spp. Adult female C. gibbosum attach eggs to coral which they have recently fed upon. After roughly a week and a half, the larvae hatch. They are planktonic and eventually settle onto other gorgonian corals. Juveniles tend to remain on the underside of coral branches while adults are far more visible and mobile. Adults scrape the polyps off the coral with their radula, leaving an easily visible feeding scar on the coral. However, the corals can regrow the polyps, and therefore predation by C. gibbosum is generally not lethal.
Survival status
This species used to be common, but it has become rather uncommon because of over-collecting by snorkelers and scuba divers, who make the mistake of thinking that the color is the shell of the animal.
References
- ^ WoRMS (2009). Cyphoma gibbosa (Linnaeus, 1758). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=419727 on 2010-05-24
- ^ a b c Welch J. J. (2010). "The “Island Rule” and Deep-Sea Gastropods: Re-Examining the Evidence". PLoS ONE 5(1): e8776. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0008776.
Further reading
- Burkepile D. E. & Hay M. E. (2007). "Predator release of the gastropod Cyphoma gibbosum increases predation on gorgonian corals". Oecologia 154(1): 167–173. doi:10.1007/s00442-007-0801-4
- Whalen K. E., Lane A. L., Kubanek J., Hahn M. E. (2010). "Biochemical Warfare on the Reef: The Role of Glutathione Transferases in Consumer Tolerance of Dietary Prostaglandins". PLoS ONE 5(1): e8537. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0008537
External links
