Flamingo Tongue Snail

The Flamingo Tongue Snail, Cyphoma gibbosum, a marine gastropod, lives sub-tidally and is common on many Caribbean and southern Atlantic coral reefs. It is about once inch long and can be observed atached to gorgonians upon which it exclusively feeds. Unlike nudibranchs, flamingo tongue snails have a shell; however, the shell is typically not visible in living animals due to the mantle flesh covering it. When alive, the snail appears yellow-orange with irregular shaped spots ringed in black. However, the mantle can be retracted, exposing the shell.