THE FLAMINGO TONGUE SNAIL

CLASSIFICATIONS

• Common Name: The Flamingo Tongue Snail
• Kingdom: Anamalia
• Phylum: Mollusca
• Class: Gastropoda
• Order: Neotaenioglossa
• Family: Olividae
• Genus: cyphoma
• Scientific Name: C. gibbosum

This snail lives in the warm waters of the Caribbean and other warm water Atlantic reefs

This snail lives in the sub-tidal zone where it feeds exclusively on gorgonians

The snail feeds on living and dead coral for food. This gives them chemicals that they keep in their bodies. These chemicals are toxic to other fish. There main predators are the hog and puffer fish and the spiny lobster.

NEEDS FOR SURVIVAL

• Coral for food
• Coral reefs to hide in
• Coral reefs to lay their eggs in

THREATS TO SURVIVAL

• Pollution leading to the destruction of the coral reef
• Over collection by humans for their shells

FUN FACTS

• Has its unique color due to chemicals in its diet
• Has a layer of tissue around its shell known as a live mantle
• The shells are used world wide as jewelry
• The inside of the shell has bright colors
• Has horns with small eyes on them
• Has bilateral symmetry

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CITATIONS

• Facts about Flamingo Tongue Snail. (2013, June 24). Retrieved November 13, 2015, from http://www.buzzle.com/articles/facts-about-flamingo-tongue-snail.htmlFlamin... tongue snail. (n.d.). Retrieved November 13, 2015
• Flamingo tongue snail. (n.d.). Retrieved November 13, 2015, from https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flamingo_tongue_snail
• One-of-a-Kind Sea Creature Photos -- National Geographic. (n.d.). Retrieved November 13, 2015, from ocean.nationalgeographic.com/ocean/photos/unique-sea-creatures/