Sea butterflies’ shells determine how the snails swim

Aquarium videos show species rise and sink at different angles and speeds

image of a sea butterfly on a black background

Different species of marine snails known as “sea butterflies,” such as Diacria trispinosa (shown), have distinct swimming styles that depend on the sizes and shapes of their shells.

David Shale/Nature Picture Library/Alamy

Sea butterflies flit through the ocean on gossamer wings, each species with a style of its own.