Elephant Snail
Scientific name: Scutus antipodes
Alternative name/s:
Roman Shield
Roman Shield
Click to enlarge image
Elephant Snail, Scutus antipodes, in rock pool
Image: Dr Isobel Bennett
© Australian Museum
© Australian Museum
Fast Facts
-
Classification
- Genus
- Scutus
- Species
- antipodes
- Subfamily
- Emarginulinae
- Family
- Fissurellidae
- Super Family
- Fissurelloidea
- Order
- Lepetellida
- Subclass
- Vetigastropoda
- Class
- Gastropoda
- Phylum
- Mollusca
- Kingdom
- Animalia
-
- Size Range
- 15 cm
The Elephant Snail looks like it has grown too big for its shell.
Identification
The white shield-shaped shell of the Elephant Snail is often completely covered over by the black mantle. A member of the limpet family, this snail is easy to identify because of its large size and black colour.
Habitat
Elephant Snails are found in intertidal rock pools.
Distribution
Elephant Snails are found in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania.
Distribution data sourced from the Atlas of Living Australia
Feeding and diet
The Elephant Snail is usually found feeding on algae in pools, crevices or under stones.
