Hobbies And Interests
Description
Moon snails have shells that are sometimes large enough to fill a person's hand and a foot that extends well beyond the size of the shell. The rest of the snail's body is contained within the shell. It moves using its foot to burrow into the sand or travel across the top of it. The snail normally sucks water through its foot and mantle to increase its weight. When faced with a threat, the snail pumps the water out, pulls its foot inside its shell and seals the shell with something called an operculum, which acts like a lid.
Distribution and Habitat
Moon snails are found in oceans and seas worldwide. The greatest species diversity is seen in tropical areas, although moon snails are found in temperate oceans as well as Antarctic and Arctic waters. Moon snails prefer sandy habitats and live at a range of depths.
Diet
Moon snails feed on butter snails, cockles, horse clams and other moon snails. They feed by holding their prey still using their foot. Their rough tongue secretes a substance that softens the prey's shell. After this, they drill a hole through the shell with their tongue and feed on the animal inside. If you've ever seen a fully closed clam shell wash up on the beach with a small hole on one side, chances are you're viewing the prey of a moon snail.
Reproduction
Female moon snails lay eggs in the ocean. Males deposit sperm inside the female and the eggs are fertilized inside the female's body before she lays them. The female moon snail lays her eggs at night in a single layer beneath something called a sand collar, which is a mix of sand and mucus. The eggs are attached to the underside of the moon collar, which protects them until they hatch.
Shell
After a moon snail dies, its shell is often inhabited by hermit crabs. Hermit crabs are unable to generate their own shells and must wait for other animals to die so they can have a home.