One of the most common snails on the rocky shore is the Drill (Thai sp.). It is named for its feeding habit of drilling holes in other shellfish in order to eat them.

The Cowries (Family Cypraeidae) have some of the prettiest shells around. Interestingly, their shells are covered by a thin mantle when alive. The mantle can retract or cover the shell as needed like an eyelid. The surface of the mantle usually has protrusions - knobs or even tassels. The mantle colour and texture serve as camouflage. Aside from camouflage, the mantle also polishes the shell as it rubs against the shell and deposits layers of protein - you might call it baisc shell care. The pictures to the right are of a Cypraea species, probably C. errones.

The Telescope Shell (Telescopium) is one of a family of mud feeders (Family Potamididae) that filters through the mud for organics. Telescopium is usually found by the hundreds in the mangrove mud, it also thrives under seaside kampongs which are built on stilts over the sea. There they feed on the garbage and sewerage from the houses above. Incidentally, I hear that it is edible.

Wandering gastropod:

Left: The Moon Snails (Family Naticidae) bond their eggs to sand with mucus. When hard, the structure looks and feels like a jelly 'collar' hence the name 'Sand Collar'. Right: Mollusc eggs stuck to the rocks.

Eggs of a Voluta (Family Volutidae).

Dead shells washed in by the tides:

Right: Fan Shell (Pinna sp.). A bivalve always found sticking out of the mud.

This Scallop is one of the more familiar shellfish:

But this giant cockle? may be more unfamiliar to you: It is actually a relative to the sea hum you are used to having in your Char Kuay Teow and Laksa (or blanched in boiling water and served with garlic chilli).