FamilyOvulidaeAlso known asFlamingo tongue cowrieDescriptionThe flamingo tongue is a small marine gastropod mollusk with a distinctive creamy-white shell covered by a striking mantle displaying bold orange-yellow spots outlined in black. The colorful pattern visible is actually the living mantle tissue draped over the shell — when disturbed, the animal retracts its mantle to reveal the plain, glossy white shell beneath. It feeds exclusively on soft corals such as sea fans and sea plumes, making it a specialist predator.HabitatFound throughout the Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and western Atlantic Ocean. Inhabits coral reefs and rocky substrates typically at depths of 1–30 meters, where it crawls along gorgonian sea fans and other soft corals.Conservation statusLeast ConcernNotesExcellent image quality with sharp focus on the snail. The animal is clearly positioned on a purple/lavender sea fan (gorgonian coral), which is its characteristic feeding substrate. The reticulated structure of the sea fan is prominently visible. The mantle is fully extended, displaying the classic spotted pattern.Creatures detected2 in frame- Flamingo Tongue Snailinvertebrate
- purple sea fan (gorgonian coral)coral
