Beachcombers Field Guide - Department Of Fisheries Western ...
Beachcombers Field Guide - Department Of Fisheries Western ... Beachcombers Field Guide - Department Of Fisheries Western ...
Violet snail Mollusca – Gastropoda There are a few species of violet snails that may be washed up on Western Australian beaches by rough seas. A violet snail fl oats upside down far out in the open ocean, clinging to a raft it creates by secreting airfi lled mucous bubbles that stick together and harden. Travelling at the mercy of ocean currents, these carnivorous snails feed on fl oating cnidarians, such as bluebottles and by-the-wind sailors. Photo: Clay Bryce Did you know? Violet snails are adapted to life on the sea surface. When viewed from above, the dark purple colouration of the shell blends with the surrounding water and when viewed from below, the lighter colour blends with the sky. This type of camoufl age is known as countershading.
Photo: Michelle Dyer Turban snail
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- Page 5 and 6: Photo: Cottesloe Coastcare Globefi
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- Page 21 and 22: Sponge Photo: Sandy Clarke
- Page 23 and 24: Photo: Michelle Dyer Bryozoan
- Page 25: Photo: Michelle Dyer Violet snail
- Page 29 and 30: Photo: Sandy Clarke Cone shell
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- Page 39 and 40: Photo: Sandy Clarke Cowry shell
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- Page 43 and 44: Photo: Michelle Dyer Cuttlebone
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- Page 55 and 56: Razor clam
- Page 57 and 58: Sea jelly
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- Page 61 and 62: Coral
- Page 63 and 64: Acorn barnacle
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Violet snail<br />
Mollusca – Gastropoda<br />
There are a few<br />
species of violet snails that may<br />
be washed up on <strong>Western</strong> Australian<br />
beaches by rough seas. A violet snail fl oats<br />
upside down far out in the open ocean,<br />
clinging to a raft it creates by secreting airfi<br />
lled mucous bubbles that stick together<br />
and harden. Travelling at the mercy of<br />
ocean currents, these carnivorous snails<br />
feed on fl oating cnidarians,<br />
such as bluebottles<br />
and by-the-wind<br />
sailors.<br />
Photo: Clay Bryce<br />
Did you know?<br />
Violet snails are adapted to<br />
life on the sea surface. When<br />
viewed from above, the dark purple<br />
colouration of the shell blends<br />
with the surrounding water and<br />
when viewed from below, the lighter<br />
colour blends with the sky. This<br />
type of camoufl age is known as<br />
countershading.