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Phylum Mollusca > Class Gastropoda > Family Ellobiidae
Belongkeng snail
Ellobium sp.
Family Ellobiidae
updated Jul 2020

Where seen? This large snail is sometimes seen in our back mangroves. Sometimes, their empty shells are washed ashore on beaches near mangroves. It breathes air (instead of through gills like most other marine snails). Elsewhere, they are also found in Nipah palm groves.

Features: 4-9cm. Shell thick and oval or elongated, plain brown. White at the shell opening. The animal is large with a fleshy pale body and short tentacles, some with pretty white patterns.

Pasir Ris, Aug 09
What does it eat? It grazes on algae growing on mangrove trees and on the ground.

Human uses: Traditionally collected as food by Indonesian coastal dwellers.

Status and threats: The Mangrove land snail (Ellobium scheepmakeri) is listed as 'Critically Endangered' on the list of threatened animals of Singapore due to habitat loss.

Pulau Semakau, Feb 09

Belongkeng snails on Singapore shores
On wildsingapore flickr

Other sightings on Singapore shores


Chek Jawa, Dec 12
Photo shared by Loh Kok Sheng on flickr.

Links References
  • Tan Siong Kiat and Henrietta P. M. Woo, 2010 Preliminary Checklist of The Molluscs of Singapore (pdf), Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research, National University of Singapore.
  • S. K. Tan, S. H. Tan and M. E. Y. Low. On Ellobium aurismalchi (Muller, 1774) (Mollusca: Ellobiidae). Nature in Singapore 2009 2: 357–359.
  • Tan, K. S. & L. M. Chou, 2000. A Guide to the Common Seashells of Singapore. Singapore Science Centre. 160 pp.
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