General Description

Shell white, flattened, elongate oval shape with one straighter end. Shell surrounded by the black muscular foot, which is much larger than the shell. Two black tentacles on the head. Shell up 10 cm long.

Biology

Elephant Snails emerge at night to graze on seaweeds. They were commonly eaten by Aboriginal people, who cut away the black flesh to eat the muscular foot. The black mantle usually partially covers the shell, but when disturbed the snail pulls the mantle back, exposing the shell.

Distribution

New Zealand. Southern mainland Australia and Tasmania.

Habitat

In crevices and under boulders on rocky reefs in the intertidal and subtidal zones.

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