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Blue top shell snail

Calliostoma ligatum

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Fun Facts

Blue top shell snails can withstand a variety of water temperatures, from subtropical to polar.

Species Type:

Invertebrates

Common Name(s):

Blue top shell snail

Size:

These snails are commonly found at 1.2 inches (3 centimeters) long.

Diet:

These sea stars eat kelp, tunicates like sea squirts, and certain species of algae.

Range & Habitat:

Amongst eelgrass meadows, kelp forests and brown algae, these snails exist in the eastern Pacific Ocean and the Arctic.

Details:

Blue top shell snails inhabit cone-shaped spiral shells that can range in color from blue, green, brown or purple. Blue top snails use their muscular foot and sticky mucus to cling to rocks, even in strong waves. As algae grazers, they help control algal growth and maintain balance in their ecosystem.