Cyphoma

Cyphoma is a genus of predatory sea snails, commonly known as coquebert snails or finger snails, belonging to the family Ovulidae. These marine gastropod mollusks are found in tropical and subtropical waters worldwide. They are characterized by their smooth, elongated shells, which are often brightly colored and can have a glossy appearance. The shells are typically thin and lack the operculum found in many other snail species.

Adult Cyphoma snails are known for their highly active feeding behavior. They primarily prey on hydroids and soft corals, using their radula to scrape off polyps. Their foot is large and muscular, allowing them to move with considerable speed across the seabed. Some species are also known to feed on anemones.

Reproduction in Cyphoma involves the laying of gelatinous egg masses, which are attached to the substrate. The larval stage is planktonic, drifting in the ocean currents before settling to the seafloor to metamorphose into juvenile snails.

Several species of Cyphoma are recognized, with common examples including Cyphoma gibbosum, the flamingo tongue, known for its distinctive orange and black spotted mantle, and Cyphoma signatum, the painted coquebert. The brightly colored mantle of some species is not part of the shell itself but is an external fleshy tissue that covers the shell. When the snail retracts into its shell, the mantle colors can be lost or faded. These snails are often sought after by divers and snorkelers due to their striking appearance.