Malacology
Malacology is the study of mollusks. This includes animals like octopus, snails, slugs, and clams. It is the second largest phylum of animals, making them one of the most successful groups on the planet. There are over 80,000 described species of mollusks with many more left to be discovered. Mullusca is composed of 8 recognized classes including Cephalopoda, Gastropoda, Polyplacophora, Scaphapoda, Monoplacophorans, the Aplacophorans, Caudofoveata and Solenogastres, and Bivalvia.
Two-toothed Marsh Snail
Say, 1822
Melampus bidentatus
Class:
Gastropoda
Order:
Ellobiida
Family:
Ellobiidae

Image Voucher:
ANSP 359149
Ecological Information
Distribution:
Depth (m):
Nova Scotia to Virgin Islands
0 to 0 meters
Diet:
Herbivore
Habitat:
Marine, Brackish, Terrestrial; Mangrove swamps and salt marshes on shore and in the water
Misc. Facts
This is the most common salt-marsh snail on the United States east coast. These snails can be found climbing to the top of marsh grasses as the tide ries to avoid the water as much as possible. They seem to be a favorite food of salt-marsh ducks.
Citations
MolluscaBase eds. (2021). MolluscaBase. Melampus bidentatus Say, 1822. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=160368 on 2021-06-10
Rosenberg, G., F. Moretzsohn, and E. F. Garc�a. 29. Gastropoda (Mollusca) of the Gulf of Mexico, Pp. 579�699 in Felder, D.L. and D.K. Camp (eds.), Gulf of Mexico�Origins, Waters, and Biota. Biodiversity. Texas A&M University Press, College Station, Texas.
Morris, P. A. (1987). A field guide to shells: Atlantic and Gulf coasts and the West Indies (3rd ed.). Houghton Mifflin.
Andrews, J. (1971). Seashells of the Texas Coast. University of Texas Press.