Tube Coral Wentletrap Snail

Seen in Cabilao, Philippines (2012). Photo by Mark Bockstael (my husband). Is a species of small predatory or ectoparasitic sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Epitoniidae, the wentletraps. Often known as the yellow or golden wentletrap, because the animal and the shell are a rich yellow in color. The shell size varies between 5 mm and 15 mm (2/3 inch) in length. Its bright yellow color may serve as both camouflage and warning color defense through mimicry; it feeds on yellow corals of the genus Tubastrea.
Habitat: This species has a wide distribution in the Pacific Ocean, from California and Ecuador, to Taiwan and New Zealand. Often found hanging from a thread from the top of reef wall crevices.