Purple snail Janthina janthina is one of the most strange animals on the planet. This snail lives in the sea but cannot swim. Instead, they use homemade rafts made from… their own saliva.
The purple snail Janthina janthina is a species of sea snail that belongs to the group of molluscs. They have a shell with two opposing colors: dark purple at the base and light purple at the tip. Photo: thvl. |
Purple snail Janthina janthina usually lives in temperate tropical seas, floating on the water surface for many years. Photo: yan. |
Because they cannot swim, the purple snail Janthina janthina can secrete many layers of mucous bubbles to help them hang upside down and float in the ocean following the ocean waves. Photo: blogspot. |
The female purple snail Janthina janthina lays her eggs right in the sponge raft until they develop into young larvae. Photo: vietnamnetjsc. |
When mature, the purple snail Janthina janthina will no longer be able to swim and must rely entirely on these saliva boats. Photo: deepseanews. |
The purple snail Janthina janthina is a typical pre-male hermaphrodite, when born is male and then turns into female when mature. Photo: squarespace. |
When mature, the purple snail Janthina janthina will no longer be able to swim and must rely entirely on these saliva boats. Photo: blogspot. |