| Neverita didyma | |
|---|---|
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| A live and active individual ofNeverita didyma, viewed from above | |
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| Five views of ashell ofNeverita didyma | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Subclass: | Caenogastropoda |
| Order: | Littorinimorpha |
| Family: | Naticidae |
| Genus: | Neverita |
| Species: | N. didyma |
| Binomial name | |
| Neverita didyma (Röding, 1798) | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
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Neverita didyma,common name thebladder moon snail ormoon shell, is aspecies ofpredatorysea snail, amarinegastropodmollusc in thefamilyNaticidae, the moon snails.[1] Like all naticids, this species is acarnivore and apredator.
The size of an adult shell of this species varies between 20 mm and 90 mm. The shell is smooth, glossy and thick. Thespiral tip isn't sticking out which is why the shell looks like a ball. The shell is always plain white sometimes withpearly pastel shades with a narrow white spiral at thespire sometimes with irregular blotches of colors. The underside of the shell includes a brown blotch with a smalldepression. Theoperculum is smooth and it's made out of a thinhorn-like material that's yellow. The snail hastentacles which has opaque white bands on them.
The snail is mistaken forPolinices mammatus, thebosom moon snail that has a teardrop shaped shell and has an underside which is completely white with a bump instead of a depression. TheBall moon snail is less shy and doesn't retract immediately into its shell than theBosom moon snail.[2]
The snail gets its "moon" part of the name because itsaperture is shaped like acrescent moon. The "didyma" part of the name either means "testicles" or "twins". The "ball" part of the name is because the overall shape of the shell is almost shaped like a ball.
This marine species is found in theYellow Sea or off the coast of theMadagascar,Mozambique,South Africa of theIndian Ocean andAustralia.[3]
The snail is commonly seen insandy andmuddyshores usually at night or a cool day. The snail is usuallyploughing through sand for hunting nearbeaches withseagrass. It is often found hunting forbutton snails. Its predator isArgyrops spinifer.[4]
InKorean cuisine the snails are used in a dish calledgolbaengi-muchim (moon snail salad). It is usually collected usingfishingnets at depths of 2-10 m.[5]
