marine snail
Ocean-dwelling spiral shellfish
A marine snail is any snail that lives in saltwater environments—oceans, seas, and tidal zones.
The term encompasses thousands of species, from tiny periwinkles to large conchs and whelks.
Marine snails produce the decorative shells collected on beaches.
Some are edible: The restaurant served marine snails in garlic butter.
- molluskSoft-bodied invertebrate, often shelled
- shellHard outer covering
- sea shellDiscarded mollusk exoskeleton
- gastropodSingle-shelled soft creature
- conchSpiral-shelled marine gastropod
whelk · cone shell · periwinkle · abalone · cowrie · limpet · mother of pearl · tide pool · tide line · spiral · slimy · crawling · tentacles · reef · kelp forest · ocean floor · saltwater · hermit crab
marine, snail, mariner, marina, maritime, submarine, ultramarine, marinade, marinate