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snails and sea-slugs: molluscs


Ovulidae

Egg-cowries (Ovulidae) are a group of snails which feed on soft-corals. In most cases they have evolved flaps of skin which almost completely cover the shell. Often the skin flaps are brightly coloured, in some species as camouflage. In this species it is thought the bright colours are a warning to potential predators. Soft-corals have many poisonous chemicals in their tissues and egg-cowries take some and store them in their skin (25mm).

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