Phylum Mollusca | Class Gastropoda Scientific name Telescopium telescopium Rank Species | |
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Similar Telescopium, Potamididae, Cerithidea, Pirenella cingulata, Terebralia sulcata | ||
Saccostrea glomerata and telescopium telescopium
Telescopium telescopium, or "Horn snail," is a species of marine gastropod mollusk in the family Potamididae. It is found in mangrove forests throughout the coastlines of the Indian Ocean.
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Description
This large snail has an 8–15 cm tall, conical shell strongly reminiscent of an ice cream cone. T. telescopium is commonly seen in Southeast Asian mangroves, on mud, sometimes in the hundreds covering a large area. It is also called 'Rodong' or 'Berongan' in Malay.
The largest of Horn snails, the heavy conical shell is actually beautifully marked but the patterns are usually hidden by mud and other encrusting animals. The outer lip is thin and not flared. Operculum small and circular. The animal is velvety black with a highly extendible proboscis. There is a third eye on its mantle margin, in addition to a pair of eyes at the tentacles. It can stay out of water for long periods of time.
Telescopium feeds on detritus and algae from the mud surface at low tide by sucking using its proboscis.
Human relevance
This species is gathered for food in Southeast Asia and is often sold in traditional markets. It is steamed and eaten with chili.
Distribution
