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Phylum Mollusca > Class Gastropoda > Family Naticidae
Zebra moon snail
Tanea areolata
Family Naticidae
updated Aug 2020
Where seen? Sometimes seen on our Southern shores, this fast moving moon snail is seen near coral rubble and living reefs. It was previously known as Natica areolata.

Features: 2-3cm. Shell smooth thick spherical (not flat) with the spiral tip sticking out a little. Shell pattern brown with spirals of white zig-zag lines. On the underside, a small circular depression. Operculum plain pearly white with a yellow smudge where the whorl starts, a pair of spiralling grooves on the outer margin. Foot plain white with a dark bar on the back portion, the front portion beige with three white bars. Tentacles short, white with dark tips.

Snail takeaway? Some have been seen 'dragging' a small snail shell behind them attached to the foot. Is it taking the meal away to some other place to eat it in safety?

Sisters Island, May 08

Dragging a tiny snail shell at the tip of the foot.

Small depression on underside.
Operculum pearly white with yellow smudge.
St John's Island, Aug 05

*Species are difficult to positively identify without close examination.
On this website, they are grouped by external features for convenience of display.

Zebra moon snails on Singapore shores
On wildsingapore flickr

Other sightings on Singapore shores


Big Sisters Island, Dec 08
Photo shared by Toh Chay Hoon on flickr.

Big Sisters Island, Jan 23
Photo shared by Jianlin Liu on facebook.

St. John's Island, Aug 23
Photo shared by James Koh on facebook.


Seringat-Kias, Nov 14
Photo shared by Loh Kok Sheng on facebook.

Cyrene Reef, Jul 10
Photo shared by Neo Mei Lin on her blog.


Cyrene Reef, Aug 12

Photo shared by Loh Kok Sheng on flickr.

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