Moon snail

The work of a curious fellow

Moon snail get a lot of coverage in the video clips. They are relatively easy to find, and when found are quite photogenic since they are always busy but do not move so fast that we can't follow them. Also they are sort of wierd looking, to us bipeds anyway. This one is burrowing in the sand probably looking for a meal, or perhaps trying to avoid that anoying lobster trap rope.

Burrowing moon snail

Moon snail are slow moving but quite maneuverable. This individual is turning in place toward the ROV.

Moon snail turning toward ROV

In maneuvering the ROV we stir up a gravel storm and cover the snail with it. This is evidently too much excitement for it so it wheels away from us.

Moon snail turning away from ROV

After turning away from the ROV the snail gallops away at top speed.

Moon snail running away

Here we get a look at the snail approaching the ROV.

Moon snail approaching

This animal is displaying its right profile for us.

Moon snail right profile

We accidentally dragged the ROV tether ballast bag over this snail, turning it over on its shell. The snail took a few minutes to gather its meat into a tall column and rock itself upright again.

Moon snail rollover

Moon snail feed mostly on clams and other mollusks. They burrow in the sand and when they find a clam for instance, then enfold it in that muscular foot on which they travel and extend a drill to the clamshell, eventually drilling a hole in it through which they extend their tongue to extract the meat. This individual seems to be working on some food here.

Moon snail feeding

When moon snails lay their eggs they create a collar of sand, eggs and mucus to protect the developing embryos. Here we accidently overturn one of the egg mass collars with the wash from the ROV propellers.

Moon snail egg mass upset

It is likely that having the egg mass upside down is not critical since some natural events like wave action might turn it over, but to be on the safe side we use the ROV to turn the eggmass seen above back to the upright position. you will notice that the egg mass is quite strong and flexible.

Moon snail egg mass uprighted

Here a juvenile moon snail, or in any event quite a small one charges right at the ROV... If you can call about one foot per minute a charge.

Moon snail charge