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Coralliophila galea is not particularly choosy about its prey corals, it has been photographed in action on a variety of stony corals in the Caribbean, we have posted a selection of the photos.
The snail has been shown to feed on the following stony coral species:
Agaricia agaricites, Agaricia humilis, Agaricia lamarcki, Colpophyllia natans, Orbicella annularis, Madracis auretenra, Meandrina meandrites, Diploria labyrinthiformis, Porites porites, Pseudodiploria clivosa and Pseudodiploria strigosa.
Already in 1981 this marine snail was documented feeding on crustose corals (Hexcorallia) and disc anemones.
Special characteristic of the snail: it has a yellow to transparent operculum.
Healthy coral reefs withstand a certain feeding pressure by predators, but if the populations of parasites literally explode, see also the crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci), even vital reefs suddenly have a very big problem, because the reefs in this critical condition are additionally weakened by El Niño phenomena and human intervention (pollution, introduction of fertilizers, poisons, etc.).
When buying new corals, please scan the sticks carefully and remove snails with the help of tweezers to avoid possible encroachment on existing corals.
Synonyms:
Coralliophila nodulosa H. Adams & A. Adams, 1864
Coralliophila undosa H. Adams & A. Adams, 1864
Murex galea Dillwyn, 1823
Purpura abbreviata auct. non Lamarck, 1816 ·
Literature reference:
Potkamp, Gerrit, Vermeij, Mark, Hoeksema, Bert
Genetic and morphological variation in corallivorous snails (Coralliophila spp.) living on different host corals at Curaçao, southern Caribbean
DOI: 10.1163/18759866-08602002
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/317388309_Genetic_and_morphological_variation_in_corallivorous_snails_Coralliophila_spp_living_on_different_host_corals_at_Curacao_southern_Caribbean/citation/download
open access artikel
The snail has been shown to feed on the following stony coral species:
Agaricia agaricites, Agaricia humilis, Agaricia lamarcki, Colpophyllia natans, Orbicella annularis, Madracis auretenra, Meandrina meandrites, Diploria labyrinthiformis, Porites porites, Pseudodiploria clivosa and Pseudodiploria strigosa.
Already in 1981 this marine snail was documented feeding on crustose corals (Hexcorallia) and disc anemones.
Special characteristic of the snail: it has a yellow to transparent operculum.
Healthy coral reefs withstand a certain feeding pressure by predators, but if the populations of parasites literally explode, see also the crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci), even vital reefs suddenly have a very big problem, because the reefs in this critical condition are additionally weakened by El Niño phenomena and human intervention (pollution, introduction of fertilizers, poisons, etc.).
When buying new corals, please scan the sticks carefully and remove snails with the help of tweezers to avoid possible encroachment on existing corals.
Synonyms:
Coralliophila nodulosa H. Adams & A. Adams, 1864
Coralliophila undosa H. Adams & A. Adams, 1864
Murex galea Dillwyn, 1823
Purpura abbreviata auct. non Lamarck, 1816 ·
Literature reference:
Potkamp, Gerrit, Vermeij, Mark, Hoeksema, Bert
Genetic and morphological variation in corallivorous snails (Coralliophila spp.) living on different host corals at Curaçao, southern Caribbean
DOI: 10.1163/18759866-08602002
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/317388309_Genetic_and_morphological_variation_in_corallivorous_snails_Coralliophila_spp_living_on_different_host_corals_at_Curacao_southern_Caribbean/citation/download
open access artikel
