A member of the family Ovulidae, the Flamingo Tongue, Cyphoma gibbosum (Linnaeus, 1758), is one of the most attractive shallow-water gastropods from the tropical western Atlantic Ocean. Flamingo Tongues live on gorgonians (sea fans, sea whips, and relatives), feeding on the polyps of those colonial organisms. This photo, taken underwater off Long Key, in the Florida Keys, highlights its colorful mantle, foot, and head, with the remarkable black "lips"!
Comments