Neverita didyma
Species of mollusc
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Neverita didyma, common name the bladder moon snail or moon shell, is a species of predatory sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Naticidae, the moon snails.[1] Like all naticids, this species is a carnivore and a predator.
| Neverita didyma | |
|---|---|
 | |
| A live and active individual of Neverita didyma, viewed from above | |
 | |
| Five views of a shell of Neverita 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] | |
| |
Subspecies
- Neverita didyma ampla (Philippi, 1849)
- Neverita didyma hayashii (Azuma, 1961)
- Neverita didyma hosoyai (Kira, 1959)
Description
The size of an adult shell of this species varies between 20 mm and 90 mm. The shell is smooth, glossy and thick. The spiral tip isn't sticking out which is why the shell looks like a ball. The shell is always plain white sometimes with pearly pastel shades with a narrow white spiral at the spire sometimes with irregular blotches of colors. The underside of the shell includes a brown blotch with a small depression. The operculum is smooth and it's made out of a thin horn-like material that's yellow. The snail has tentacles which has opaque white bands on them.
Common misidentifications
The snail is mistaken for Polinices mammatus, the bosom moon snail that has a teardrop shaped shell and has an underside which is completely white with a bump instead of a depression. The Ball moon snail is less shy and doesn't retract immediately into its shell than the Bosom moon snail.[2]
Eytomology
Distribution
This marine species is found in the Yellow Sea or off the coast of the Madagascar, Mozambique, South Africa of the Indian Ocean and Australia.[3]
Habitat
The snail is commonly seen in sandy and muddy shores usually at night or a cool day. The snail is usually ploughing through sand for hunting near beaches with seagrass. It is often found hunting for button snails. Its predator is Argyrops spinifer.[4]
Culinary use
In Korean cuisine the snails are used in a dish called golbaengi-muchim (moon snail salad). It is usually collected using fishing nets at depths of 2-10 m.[5]
Online fake news
In late 2018, a website in Thailand reported that on December 22, the body of a young woman was found lying dead on a beach in Phuket, in southern Thailand. The body was lying on top of horned turbans (Turbo cornutus), and there were greenish bruises on her back, resembling snake bites.
The report cited officials from the Department of Fisheries, claiming that turbans are venomous. However, the Department of Fisheries later investigated and confirmed that the story was fake news. The snail shown in the accompanying image was actually identified as Neverita didyma, a species commonly found in Lamae District, Chumphon Province. This species is edible and non-venomous. The Department of Fisheries also stated that it would take legal action against the website.[6]
