Flamingo Tongue Snail in Cozumel
Flamingo Tongue Snail (*Cyphoma gibbosum*) in Cozumel: how to identify it, which sea fans to look at, and why the pattern is not on the shell.
A small snail on a sea fan, covered by a living mantle patterned in bright orange leopard spots ringed in black. The shell underneath is plain cream — the pattern is the animal, not the shell.
Quick ID
| Scientific name | Cyphoma gibbosum |
|---|---|
| Group | Molluscs — Octopus, Squid & Snails |
| Typical size | 2–4 cm |
| Depth range | 3–25 m |
| When to see it | Year-round |
| Active | Daytime |
| Conservation status | Least Concern |
| Notes | — |
Where You Will See It In Cozumel
On gorgonians and sea fans at Tormentos, Yucab and Paso del Cedral. Once you know to look at sea fans, they are everywhere.
Reliable sites: Tormentos, Yucab, Paso del Cedral.
Behaviour
Feeds on soft coral tissue, leaving visible grazing scars on the fan. The fan usually regrows. The spotted mantle can be retracted into the shell entirely.
Commonly Confused With
- Fingerprint cyphoma — Fingerprint cyphoma has maze-like black lines rather than discrete ringed spots.
- Nudibranchs — Nudibranchs have exposed gills and no shell underneath.
Diving Etiquette And Safety
Never pick one up to photograph the shell. Removing the animal from the fan kills it, and the famous pattern disappears the moment the mantle retracts.
Part of the Cozumel marine life guide · see Cozumel dive sites · plan your Cozumel dive trip
Photo: H. Zell, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
