Flamingo tongue
Cyphoma gibbosum
(Linnaeus, 1758)

Description:
The shell of this animal is covered by the mantle. The mantle is cream to white, with squarish yellow spots, outlined with dark brown. The shell is white, with a ridge across.
Size: usually up to 3 cm.

Habitat:
This snail feeds on gorgonians, and can be found on various species.
Depth: ranges from 2 m down to 15 m.

Distribution:
Common all over the Caribbean.

Remarks:
In most countries it is illegal to bring back these shells from holidays.

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Mollusca
Class Gastropoda
Subclass Prosobranchia
Genus Cyphoma
Species Cyphoma gibbosum

Status in World Register of Marine Species

Not included in WoRMS database

Scientific synonyms and common names

Flamingo tongue [English]
Langue de flamant [French]
Monnaie Caraïbe [French]
Bulla gibbosa Linnaeus, 1758
Cyphoma dorsatum Röding, 1798
Ovula pharetra G. Perry, 1811
Cyphoma alleneae Cate, 1973

Humann, P., 1992. Reef Creature Identification - Florida Caribbean Bahamas, (ed. N. Deloach). New World Publications, Inc., Paramount Miller Graphics, Inc., Jacksonville, Florida.

You can continue searching for Cyphoma gibbosum on one of these Web sites:

Fauna Europaea (animals) | IOPI (plants) | NCBI (genetic)

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