HOME | DD

Description
Creeping reef snail
*Urbetitanus eren*
Size -
140cm
27kg

The Anthropocene hit many hard shelled creatures hard but after the effects of ocean acidification began on wain some of these creatures rediversified in full force. The creeping reef snail is one of the largest snails of its time getting its name from the many organism that ride on its shell. To attain this size it’s murex ancestors had to make an important sacrifice. The operculum has been absorbed into the body and now acts as a muscle attachment to support its large shell. Some of the tendons have ossified into cartilage creating a make shift “internal skeleton”.

The operculum in most snails closes the shell off when the foot is retracted, important for defense against predators. The creeping reef snail compensates using its large spines to defend itself forming a cage around the foot. The snail itself is quite heavy so it can be hard to flip them over. Adults are also know to expel cnidocytes from their siphonal canal to hunt or defend themselves. The severity of which depends on what kinds of cnidarians attach as they take small bites of their passengers or actively hunt to collect the cnidocytes.

Creeping reef snails are generalist carnivores. They feed on a variety of invertebrates like other snails, flatworms, bivalves, and cnidarians. They will also feed on carrion.

The individual shown here is 120cm carrying several tube worms, a large anemone, mussels, and several types of algae on its shell. It’s also accompanied by a pair of damsel which call the snail home, farming hair algae wrapped around the spines that they defend and feed on.

This species survives 20 million years in ocean surrounding Oceania.

Description
Creeping reef snail
*Urbetitanus eren*
Size -
140cm
27kg

The Anthropocene hit many hard shelled creatures hard but after the effects of ocean acidification began on wain some of these creatures rediversified in full force. The creeping reef snail is one of the largest snails of its time getting its name from the many organism that ride on its shell. To attain this size it’s murex ancestors had to make an important sacrifice. The operculum has been absorbed into the body and now acts as a muscle attachment to support its large shell. Some of the tendons have ossified into cartilage creating a make shift “internal skeleton”.

The operculum in most snails closes the shell off when the foot is retracted, important for defense against predators. The creeping reef snail compensates using its large spines to defend itself forming a cage around the foot. The snail itself is quite heavy so it can be hard to flip them over. Adults are also know to expel cnidocytes from their siphonal canal to hunt or defend themselves. The severity of which depends on what kinds of cnidarians attach as they take small bites of their passengers or actively hunt to collect the cnidocytes.

Creeping reef snails are generalist carnivores. They feed on a variety of invertebrates like other snails, flatworms, bivalves, and cnidarians. They will also feed on carrion.

The individual shown here is 120cm carrying several tube worms, a large anemone, mussels, and several types of algae on its shell. It’s also accompanied by a pair of damsel which call the snail home, farming hair algae wrapped around the spines that they defend and feed on.

This species survives 20 million years in ocean surrounding Oceania.