Janthina janthina Linnaeus 1758
violet snail,
purple bubble snail
The
empty purple shells are often found washed up on beaches. Less
commonly there are strandings of live animals. They live on the
ocean surface supported by a transparent float of hardened mucus
bubbles. They eat bluebottles.
They are widely distributed in warm seas. Each animal is released
live from the parent, starting life as a male, later transforming
into female.
Naming
notes:-
from the Latin ianthinus meaning violet-blue.

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