Is this snail a Clam Predator?

[SuperNerd]

...or just a scavenger?
I found it moving inside a maxima clam shell along with some bristleworms. The remaining clam flesh is not decayed (it doesn't smell like it has been rotting).

If these pictures don't refresh anyone's memory then please feel free to ask me to take some more.

It has the body shape of "peppermint" snails and is a little over half a centimeter in length.



http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/pincushion80/UnknownSnail1Cropped-1.jpg
Uncropped shot of previous:
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/pincushion80/UnknownSnail1.jpg
Belly shot:
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/pincushion80/UnknownSnail2.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/pincushion80/UnknownSnail3.jpg

[mbbuna]

can you try to get some clear close ups of it from the top and bottom like these two photos

http://seashellsofnsw.org.au/Muricinae/Pages/chicoreus_denudatus.htm

a black background might help with contrast

[SuperNerd]

Black background? Okay check! I will get some. The 3rd pic is a belly shot and the length of the shell is a little over 0.5 centimeters.

[mbbuna]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10273009#post10273009 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SuperNerd
Black background?

meaning not white:) its just hard to see anything on a pail/tan snail on a white background

[SuperNerd]

Thanks, that was a good idea. Here is the most non fuzzy pic I took with that camera. It's a dorsal pic of the snail. I've taken some more with a different camera (please see next post below this post) to try and get some better back and body shots.

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/pincushion80/UnknownSnail4Cropped.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/pincushion80/UnknownSnail4.jpg

[SuperNerd]

Here are some better pictures.

2 pics of the snail's belly (its foot is sticking out a little bit more in the first pic):

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/pincushion80/UnknownSnailBellyView2Cropped.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/pincushion80/UnknownSnailBellyView1Cropped.jpg

3 pics of the snail crawling around:

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/pincushion80/UnknownSnailCrawling4Cropped.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/pincushion80/UnknownSnailCrawling3Cropped.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/pincushion80/UnknownSnailCrawling1Cropped.jpg

[mbbuna]

im thinking its ome type of crowier but thats just me:) i sent a PM to greenbean with a link to this thread so lets see what he has to say

[SuperNerd]

Okay thanks!

[pagojoe]

Those are really good ID pics, I'm impressed. It's a marginellid, and is a species of Volvarina. Most likely it's Volvarina philippinarum. They are scavengers as well as predators, but I think they would only kill other tiny creatures. I know they are attracted to carrion, and I also know they will seize and kill other tiny gastropods. I doubt they would bother a clam.

http://www.gastropods.com/1/Shell_2281.html

Your pic looks more like a "standard" V. philippinarum than most on the ID link above.

Cheers,


Don

[SuperNerd]

pagojoe. YGPM. :D

[madadi]

that snail looks cool too bad it isn't bigger