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| shelled snails text index | photo index |
| Phylum Mollusca > Class Gastropoda > Family Volutidae |
| Baler
volute Melo melo Family Volutidae updated Aug 10
Where seen? This magnificent large snail sometimes seen on our Northern shores and is more common on undisturbed shores. They are usually found on muddy bottoms, near mangroves and seagrasses. Features: 15-20cm. Large shell is beige to orange, sometimes with bands, others without any distinct markings. The shell is rather thin and quite fragile for such a large snail. The fleshy body is brown with white stripes, a large foot and long siphon. What does it eat? The snail is a predator and hunts other snails, moving about on the surface. Like other volutes, it uses its large foot to enclose the prey. It lays large egg capsules. Human uses: It is collected for food even, sadly, on Singapore shores. Elsewhere, the empty shell is used elsewhere to bail out water from 'sampans' (little boats used by fishermen), also to measure out sugar, salt and flour in local markets.It is also called the Indian volute. "Pearls" may form inside this snail when something enters the snail's shell and gets covered by shell material. The "pearl" is not lustrous as it contains no nacre, but are usually very round and can be as large as a golf ball. The colours of the "pearl" tend to fade over time so they are not considered precious gems. Status and threats: The Baler volute is listed as 'Endangered' in the Red List of threatened animals of Singapore due to habitat loss. Also threatened by indiscriminate fishing with nets. It is also eaten. Wildfilms had an encounter with a collector who took one from Changi to eat. The 1994 Red Data Book of Singapore states "Thought to have been exterminated from our water, but a recent isolated sighting confirms their continued presence". Like other creatures of the intertidal zone, it is affected by human activities such as reclamation and pollution. Overcollection can also have an impact on local populations. |
 Beting Bronok, Aug 05  This one at Changi was taken away by a collector to be eaten. Changi, Jul 07  The shell of a dead Baler snail is quickly taken over by a hermit crab. Beting Bronok, Aug 05 |
It is very rarely seen!Baler volutes on Singapore shores
 Changi, Jul 08 |
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 Beting Bronok, Jun 06 |
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 Beting Bronok, Jun 10  A much smaller one riding on the back of a bigger one. Prelude to mating? |
Shells
of dead Baler snails seen
 Pasir Ris, May 09 |
 Changi, Jun 09 |
 Tanah Merah, Aug 09 |
more photos of baler volutes on Singapore shores
Links
References
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The Nature Society (Singapore), Singapore. 343 pp.|
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