sea snail
Abalone, for one
A sea snail is any marine gastropod mollusk—snails that live in saltwater rather than on land or in fresh water.
They include conchs, whelks, periwinkles, and countless other shelled creatures found in oceans worldwide.
Some are harvested for food; their shells have been used as currency, tools, and decoration throughout human history.
Single-shelled soft creature
- molluskSoft-bodied invertebrate, often shelled
- invertebrateAnimal sans backbone
- nudibranchShell-shedding marine gastropod
- limpetRock-gripping marine snail
whelk · conch · abalone · cowrie · periwinkle · triton · murex · winkle
Hard outer covering
- radulaMollusk scraping organ
- mantleCovering or wrap
- operculumAnatomical lid structure
- tentaclesFlexible grasping appendages
foot · whorl · apex · spire · nacre · mother-of-pearl · siphon · gill
Edible land snails
- whelkMarine gastropod with coiled shell
- periwinkleSmall spiral-shelled mollusk
- abaloneNacreous marine gastropod
- conchSpiral-shelled marine gastropod
delicacy · sashimi · boiled · steamed · grilled · seafood · chewy · briny
Move slowly, low
- glideMove with effortless continuity
- creepStealthy, slow movement
- inchTwelfth of a foot
- undulateMove in waves
trail · slime · adhesion · suction · slow · locomotion · graze · cling
Underwater rock or coral formation
- tidepoolCoastal rock hollow holding seawater
- ocean floorUnderwater continental surface
- kelp forestSeaweed-dominated underwater ecosystem
- intertidalZone between high and low watermarks
subtidal · rocky shore · coral · sandy bottom · estuary · mangrove · benthic · pelagic
Curve winding around center
- helixSpiraling three-dimensional curve
- whorlSpiral arrangement of ridges
- coilWound circular arrangement
- conicalTapering to a point
turbinate · globular · elongated · flattened · coiling · volute · spire · aperture
Consuming only plants
- carnivorousFeeding on animal flesh
- scavengerSeeker of refuse
- detritusLoose waste from decay
- filter-feederOrganism extracting food from water
gastropod
Single-shelled soft creature
- molluskSoft-bodied invertebrate, often shelled
- invertebrateAnimal sans backbone
- nudibranchShell-shedding marine gastropod
limpet · whelk · conch · abalone · cowrie · periwinkle · triton · murex · winkle · nerite
shell
Hard outer covering
tentacles · foot · whorl · apex · spire · nacre · mother-of-pearl · siphon · gill · proboscis
escargot
Edible land snails
- whelkMarine gastropod with coiled shell
- periwinkleSmall spiral-shelled mollusk
- abaloneNacreous marine gastropod
conch · delicacy · sashimi · boiled · steamed · grilled · seafood · chewy · briny
crawl
Move slowly, low
undulate · trail · slime · adhesion · suction · slow · locomotion · graze · cling · attach
reef
Underwater rock or coral formation
- tidepoolCoastal rock hollow holding seawater
- ocean floorUnderwater continental surface
- kelp forestSeaweed-dominated underwater ecosystem
intertidal · subtidal · rocky shore · coral · sandy bottom · estuary · mangrove · benthic · pelagic · depth
spiral
Curve winding around center
- helixSpiraling three-dimensional curve
- whorlSpiral arrangement of ridges
- coilWound circular arrangement
conical · turbinate · globular · elongated · flattened · coiling · volute · spire · aperture · ribbed
herbivorous
Consuming only plants
- carnivorousFeeding on animal flesh
- scavengerSeeker of refuse
- detritusLoose waste from decay
filter-feeder · grazer · predatory · drill · rasp · plankton · carrion
- gastropodsslug, nudibranchs, conch, limpet, whelk
- invertebratesinvertebrate, arthropod, arthropods, mollusk, crustacean
- coastal wildlifepelican, grey seal, seagull, gull, sandpiper
- mollusksclams, mollusk, mollusks, mussels, clam
- shelled animalsclam, oyster, mussel, scallop, turtle
- tide poolstide pool, rock pool, hermit crab, limpet, mussel