Flamingo Tongue Snail (Cyphoma gibbosum)

The Flamingo Tongue Snail, Cyphoma gibbosum, a marine gastropod that lives below the low tide mark. It is common on many Caribbean and southern Atlantic coral reefs. This Flamingo Tongue was spotted in the Bahamas.

flamingo tongue snail (Cyphoma gibbosum)
Cyphoma gibbosum

The sea snail grows to a maximum of 1 inch long and can be commonly found attached to a gorgonians which is feeds upon.

Unlike nudibranchs, Flamingo Tongue Snails have a shell. However, the shell is typically not visible in living animals due to the mantle flesh covering it. When alive, the snail appears yellow-orange with irregular shaped spots ringed in black. However, the mantle can be retracted, exposing the shell.

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flamingo tongue snail (Cyphoma gibbosum) Bahamas
Cyphoma gibbosum

This snail is extremely over-collected and must be protected.

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