Neptunes Necklace Foraging Snail Fossil Forest Southland
Photo & Vacation Spot

A snail foraging on Neptunes Necklace in the tidal pools at the Fossil Forest in Curio Bay in Southland on the South Island of New Zealand.

At low tide, a snail finds the ideal foraging grounds amongst the Neptunes Necklace found in the tidal pools at the Fossil Forest in Curio Bay in Southland, New Zealand. Neptunes Necklace, also known as "sea grapes" or bubbleweed" is a small seaweed which protects many small sea creatures at low tide and provides a place for the snails to forage.

The bubbles on the seaweed are linked together appearing as tiny beads which create a necklace effect. They are very slimy and the coastal shores of New Zealand are one of two places that Neptunes Necklace can be found. The reproduction of the seaweed is very quick at high tide and when fully grown, the fronds can reach up to 30 centimeters in length.

When exploring the Fossil Forest at Curio Bay in Southland, New Zealand, Neptunes Necklace is plentiful and one can spend hours watching the snails foraging at low tide.

Snails foraging amongst Neptunes Necklace, Hormosira banksii, in tidal pools at the Fossil Forest in Curio Bay, Southern Scenic Route, Catlins, Southland, East Coast, South Island, New Zealand.