Orange topshell

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?

A conical shape and spiral winding give this small sea snail its general outline.

Orange colouring alone is insufficient to name a species. Its identity remains uncertain without comparison of more detailed features.

WHERE DOES IT LIVE?

It mainly lives on shallow rocky seabeds, often covered in algae, but can also be observed near seagrass beds. It stays attached or moves slowly over the substrate, where it finds food and shelter.

WHAT DOES IT EAT?

The divided top shell finds food on large algae at a much finer scale than their fronds. Diatoms and other microorganisms form a covering that it grazes. Its radula scrapes this layer as the snail progresses, allowing collection of microscopic food along its path. Available species-specific accounts emphasise surface growth more than extensive consumption of large algal tissues.