Scaled Worm Snail

Thylacodes squamigerus

Scaled Worm Snails are sedentary marine gastropods characterized by their uniquely shaped shells, which can reach lengths of up to 12.7 cm. The shells are often gray or pinkish and feature scaly, longitudinal ribs, giving them their common name. These snails typically attach themselves to various substrates, including rocks and dock pilings, and can be found in colonies. Their shell openings face upward and lack an operculum, which distinguishes them from other snails. The irregular growth of their shells adapts to the surface they cling to, making them visually distinctive in their environment. This species inhabits the Pacific coast of North America, ranging from California to Baja California. They thrive in protected areas, living at depths from the intertidal zone down to 20 meters. Scaled Worm Snails are often found in aggregations, sometimes numbering in the hundreds. They are filter feeders, using mucus nets to capture detritus and small pieces of kelp drifting in the water. Their feeding mechanism involves using a radula to collect food from these traps. In terms of reproduction, Scaled Worm Snails are gonochoric and are known to be broadcast spawners. Their life cycle includes the development of embryos into planktonic trochophore larvae, which eventually transform into juvenile veligers before reaching adulthood. Encountering these snails during a dive can be intriguing, as divers may observe their unique shell structures and feeding behavior in their natural habitat. The conservation status of this species is Not Evaluated.