A Drupella cornus outbreak in the northern Gulf of Eilat and changes in coral prey.

The article focuses on the outbreak of corallivorous snail Drupella cornus at coral colonies in the northern Gulf of Eilat, Israel. It relates that between 1999 and 2000, large numbers of the snail appeared following coral mortality. It notes that in the subsequent years, the number of snails increased dramatically, in which more than 200 Drupella on each 30-centimeter (cm) diameter colony of several branching coral species were found. It was noted that all coral colonies of the quay died within 2 years. It was also observed that at first, the Drupella fed only on branching coral species, but as these were killed, the snails were found on massive and encrusting species of corals, including Turbinaria mesenterina and Pavona cactus.