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| shelled snails text index | photo index |
| Phylum Mollusca > Class Gastropoda |
| Planaxis
snails Family Planaxidae updated Oct 10 Where seen? These neatly spiraled snails sometimes seen, usually in large numbers on rocky shores and seawalls on our Southern shores. Elsewhere, they are called clusterwinks for their habit of gathering in clusters. But disperse to feed at high tide. Features: About 2cm. The snails brood their young. Fertilisation is internal and fertilised embryos are stored in a brood pouch behind the head of the female. They are then released into the sea as free-swimming larvae. What do they eat? They graze on microalgae growing on the rocks. Sometimes mistaken for periwinkles (Family Littorinidae) and are found in similar habitats. Planaxis snails have thick shells, while periwinkles have thinner shells. Status and threats: Planaxis snails are not listed among the threatened animals of Singapore. However, like other creatures of the intertidal zone, they are affected by human activities such as reclamation and pollution. Trampling by careless visitors can also have an impact on local populations. |
 Sisters Islands, Feb 06 |
| Family
Planaxidae recorded for Singapore from Tan Siong Kiat and Henrietta P. M. Woo, 2010 Preliminary Checklist of The Molluscs of Singapore.
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Links
References
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The Nature Society (Singapore), Singapore. 343 pp.|
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