Made by Serif

© 2011 Ocean & Coastal Care Initiatives

© 2007 Ocean & Coastal Care Initiatives

Welcome to the feature creature page. Here you will find short articles on different marine creatures. A new article will be featured each month.

Apr 2010 - Lichens

Mar 2010 - Chitons

Feb 2010 - Barnacles

Jan 2010 - Rockpools

Dec 2009 - Sea Tulips

Nov 2009- Cuttlefish

Sept 2009 - Predatory Snails

Aug 2009 - Plankton

July 2009 - Periwinkles

June 2009 - Fish

May 2009 - Limpets

Apr 2009 - Coralline algae

Nov 2008 - Shrimp

Oct 2008 - Turban Snail

Sept 2008 - Sponges

Aug 2008 - Abalone

July 2008 - Elephant Snail

Feb 2008 - Sea Hare

Jan 2008 - Octopus

Dec 2007 - Urchins

Elephant Snail

Scutus antipodes

The Elephant Snail is so-called because of the way it swings its tentacles from side to side as it moves about. It is also one of the biggest molluscs to be found on the rock platform.

This snail is easily identified by its large size (up to 125 mm) and the shiny, black, almost leathery, mantle. It has a small, white shield-shaped shell which sits on top of its body which it cannot possibly fit inside! Because of this the black, fleshy mantle would easily dry out so you will only find Elephant Snails moving about the rock pools at night. During the day they stay hidden in deep crevices and caves and so it is not commonly encountered.

The Elephant Snail is a member of the Limpet family and is a grazing snail, feeding on algae. And, like other limpets, it uses powerful suction to stay attached to the surface of the rocks. It can be very difficult to pick one up! If you do, they also exude a thick, sticky mucus so you will get a handful of slime!

Due to their need for cover to stay moist they have a well-developed sight-sense and can detect light and shade extremely well. If you shine a torch beam on an Elephant Snail at night he will quickly veer away into the darkness.

Who thought we only had elephants in the jungle?

Written by Robyn Aitkens

Photographs by Ivon Sebastian and Chris Roberts