Euglandina rosea (Férussac, 1821) Unusual Feeding Strategy

    Observations have indicated that Euglandina rosea employs two distinct feeding strategies.  In the first, the Euglandina attacks, grasps and eats the prey snail alive extracting the meat through the aperture. This strategy is primarily put to use when the prey snail is of sufficient size to permit extraction. The second strategy involves attacking the prey snail and swallowing it whole. This is generally put to use for smaller prey species where extraction of the animal via the aperture is not possible. This method is also employed on larger prey snails with armored apertures which prevent animal extraction such as members of the genus Daedalochila. The snails are subsequently digested along with the animals contained therein. Recently (November, 2018) a third feeding strategy was observed. A large captive Euglandina (76.3 mm.) obtained in northern St. Johns County, Florida was offered a trio of Bulimulus sporadicus (d'Orbigny, 1835) for sustenance. The animals were subsequently extracted from two of the shells using the first strategy (prey extraction via aperture). However, with the third Bulimulus the Euglandina apparently partially digested/broke open the shell to obtain a meal (see specimen above, right). This feeding strategy has also been observed with a live collected micro land snail Glyphyalinia wheatleyi (Bland, 1883) [Bright Glyph], and captive bred specimens of same.  Images of  a Bright Glyph in action along side its post predation prey snail is available at Glyphyalinia wheatleyi (Bland, 1883) Bright Glyph.