Name that snail

I recall coming across a post about these things before, but can't remember what it is called to save my life! It moves and eats like a snail, but is a tad lacking in the shell department. What shell there is has kind of a rainbow sheen when viewed from above, similar to the way oil looks on the surface of water. Any ideas?

 

Is it a Nudibranch?

 

The description of the shell makes it sound like a member of the Stomatellid species. Possibly a Stomatella varia.

PS....remember that in taxonomic identification, varia does not refer to a specific critter....it means VARIABLE in Latin and it means that they dumped a whole lot of critters into one category. The reason I'm pointing this out is because most pics of Stomatella on the internet will show them being brown but there are indeed white ones too.

 

[quote author=Craig_Manoukian link=board=Inverts;num=1094275983;start=0#1 date=09/04/04 at 09:32:21]Is it a Nudibranch?[/quote]


Nope, definately not a nudibranch. It does have a small 'armored' section that resembles a shell.

Inwall, I think you hit it right on the head. Looked up some stomatella varia and they look quite a bit like what this is. There is a definate color difference, and the one in my tank has some branching growths coming from the shell. Thanks for the ID! [smiley=2thumbsup.gif]

 

Couldn't see the shell in your photo. Obviously not a Nudibranch if it has one!

 

Yeah, I took several shots of the thing and they all look about the same. The shell was reflecting a tad too much light I suppose.