Chilodontid Snails (Phylum Mollusca: Family Chilodontidae) of Singapore

The Tide Chaser: Chilodontid Snails (Phylum Mollusca: Family Chilodontidae) of Singapore

The chilodonit snails are a family of small snails previously classified as top shells, but molecular genetic studies elevate them to a separate family of their own. They are generally turban-shaped, with a corneous operculum. Their shells have a nice iridescence when polished, and some are collected for making decorative items. Most species graze on algae. I have only seen two species of chilodonit snails on our shores so far (thanks to Siong Kiat who gave tips on how to identify them!). You may want to take a look at my diagram on the parts of a snail's shell if you are not familiar with the names of the parts, so as to better understand the terms used below. The Four-keeled Euchelus (Euchelus quadricarinatus ) is a small snail about 1cm long, sometimes seen under rocks on our shores. It can be identified by having about four raised spiral cords marked with black (or dar...

Full article: http://tidechaser.blogspot.com/2012/10/chilodontid-snails...