Spotted moon snails (Natica gualteriana) on the Shores of Singapore

wildsingapore homepage

wildfactsheets homepage
wild shores of singapore blog

all animals | all plants | concepts | glossary | search

Phylum Mollusca > Class Gastropoda > Family Naticidae

Spotted moon snail
Natica gualteriana
Family Naticidae
updated Aug 10

Where seen? This moon snail with a spotted body is sometimes seen on sandy areas near reefs on some of our Southern shores. It is also known as Gualtieri's moon snail.

Features: 2-2.5cm. Shell spherical with the spiral tip sticking out. The shell is plain beige, grey or orange with a faint spiralling striped pattern which is more distinct near the spiral tip. The operculum is shelly, smooth and pearly white with a dark smudge where the whorl starts. The body is pale with lots of small dark spots.

Human uses: It is collected for food and the shell trade.

Kusu Island, Apr 05

Close up of shell opening and operculum.

Underside.

Spiral tip sticking out.

Spotted moon snails on Singapore shores

Pulau Sudong, Dec 09
Photo shared by Loh Kok Sheng on his flickr.

Cyrene Reef, Jul 10

Sisters Islands, Feb 10

Sisters Islands, Apr 04

Kusu Island, Jun 04

Kusu Island, Sep 10
Photo shared by Toh Chay Hoon on her blog.

Changi, Sep 10

Photo shared by Neo Mei Lin on her blog.

Acknowledgement
Grateful thanks to JK for sharing the ID of this snail on the wild shores of singapore blog.

Links

Natica gualtieriana on The Seashells of New South Wales by Des Beechey Research Associate, Australian Museum:
Gualteri's moon snail (Natica gualtieriana) on SeaLife Base: Technical fact sheet.
Gualteri's moon snail (Natica gualteriana) in the Gastropods section by J.M. Poutiers in the FAO Species Identification Guide for Fishery Purposes: The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific Volume 1: Seaweeds, corals, bivalves and gastropods on the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) website.

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.
Abbott, R. Tucker, 1991. Seashells of South East Asia. Graham Brash, Singapore. 145 pp.

www.flickr.com

FREE photos of Moon snails. Make your own badge here.

links | references | about | email Ria

Spot errors? Have a question? Want to share your sightings? email Ria I'll be glad to hear from you!