The Flamingo Tongue: A Sea Snail Dressed to Impress

You are here:

Table of Contents

Flamingo Tongue Snails on Coral

So many of us have admired the Flamingo Tongue, a small, mesmerizing creature that can be found adorning the coral. This gorgeous is easily recognized because of its unique pattern – spots outlined in black with hues of pink, yellow, and orange, resembling a delicate work of art.

In this post, we’ll discuss the Flamingo Tongue’s preferred habitat, intriguing behaviors, and unveil its ecological importance!

Is the Flamingo Tongue a Snail or Nudibranch?

The Flamingo Tongue is in fact, a snail. Specifically, it is a marine gastropod mollusk, in the family Ovulidae which is commonly known as the “false cowries”.

The attractive pattern each Flamingo Tongue has is not part of its shell. Instead, the pattern is part of the mantle tissue, known as a male flap, that covers the shell. The mantle flap works to absorb oxygen and release carbon dioxide. This tissue can be retracted but this typically only occurs during an attack. When the Flamingo Tongue dies, the mantle tissue breaks down revealing a solid cream-colored shell.

This brightly colored creature with tentacles hides beneath a patterned shell. Two horn-like sensory organs on its head sport tiny eyes on top, and it uses a specialized foot called a radula to feed. This radula acts like a tongue, dissolving coral into a nutritious meal.

The Flamingo Tongue Habitat and Behavior

Divers can find Flamingo Tongues in the coral reefs of the western Atlantic Ocean.

This colorful snail can be found on their prey of choice – sea fans, whip corals, and other soft corals. It slowly slides along the coral, eating the soft tissue and leaving behind the skeleton. Even though the coral is a source of food, the flamingo tongue snail coexists peacefully with its coral home. It can feed without killing its host. As it grazes, it leaves behind tiny marks but doesn’t harm the coral.

The Flamingo Tongue takes the toxins from the coral and internalizes it, putting the toxins into the mantle tissue. These toxins, combined with the bright warning colors, deter predators from feeding on the snail.

Reproduction

When the time comes to reproduce, four is the magic number! These snails leave a trail of pheromones in their mucus, indicating they are ready to breed. The male and female mate for up to four hours and then four days later, the female lays the fertilized eggs on coral. Each egg can hold up to 300 embryos. Just ten days later, the eggs hatch and the larva swim free to feed on plankton. When they grow, they will settle onto the reef in their mature form.

Predators

Despite their defensive toxins, the Flamingo Tongue does have some predators, including hogfish, pufferfish, and the Caribbean Spiny Lobster.

The conservative status is unknown, however, experts believe the Flamingo Tongue has a reduced population because of human tourism and climate change.

Show Your Love For Flamingo Tongues!

If you love the exquisite pattern on these fantastic little snails, shop our line of swim leggings, rashguards, and swimwear featuring a Flamingo Tongue design!

Check Out Our Latest Posts