Shell Specimen: Gastropoda

“Shelling” is a fun for professional scientist and amateurs alike. A majority of the shells below are composed of the mineral aragonite CaCO3. Many of my modern or “recent” shells have fossil relatives in my Fossil Gallery. Below I have organized images and data of some of my sea shells.

Special thanks to Tina Petway, Lucy Clampet and Gary Kidder for giving me what I could not find.

Kingdom: – Animalia – Phylum: Mollusca – Class: Gastropoda

(Snails, Limpets, Cowries and Abolone)

Limpets

Limpets

Superfamily: Patelloidea

Family: Patellidae

(True Limpets)

Limpets

Superfamily: Fissurelloidea

Family: Fissurellidae

(Keyhole Limpet)

Limpets

Superfamily: Patelloidea

Family: Acmeidae

(Striate Limpet)

Abolone

Abalones

Superfamily: Pleurotomarioidea

Family: Haliotdae

Genus: Haliotis 

Abalones

Superfamily: Pleurotomarioidea

Family: Haliotdae

Genus: Haliotis 

Abalones

Superfamily: Pleurotomarioidea

Family: Haliotdae

Genus: Haliotis 

Top Shells

Snail

Superfamily Trochoidea

Family Trochidae (Top Shells)

Species: Trochus niloticus 

“Commercial Troschus”

Tropical Indo Pacific 4.5 in (11cm)

Snail

Superfamily: Trochoidea

Family: Trochidae (Top Shell)

[side view]

Snail

Superfamily: Trochoidea

Family: Turbinidae (Top Shell)

[bottom view]

Snail

Superfamily: Trochoidea

Family: Trochidae (Top Shells)

Snail

Superfamily: Trochoidea

Family: Trochidae (Top Shells)

Species: Tectus conus “Cone Shaped Top”

Pacific 2.5 in (6cm)

Snail

Superfamily: Trochoidea

Family: Turbinidae (Top Shell)

Snail

Superfamily: Trochoidea

Family: Trochidae (Top Shells)

Species: Trichia striolata

“Strawberry Top Snail”

Snail

Superfamily: Trochoidea

Family: Trochidae (Top Shell)

[Polished]

Snail

Superfamily: Trochoidea

Family: Trochidae (Top Shells)

Turban Shells

Snail

Superfamily: Trochoidea

Family: Turbinidae (Turban Shell)

Species: Turbo petholatus 

“Tapestry Turban”

Tropical Indo Pacific 2.5 in (6cm)

Snail

Superfamily: Trochoidea

Family: Turbinidae (Turban Shells)

Species: Turbo marmoratus

“Great Green Turban”

Tropical Indo Pacific 6in (15cm)

Snail

Superfamily Trochoidea

Family Turbinidae (Turban Shells)

Turbo marmoratus 

“Great Green Turban”

Tropical Indo Pacific 6in (15cm)

[Cross Section]

Snail

Superfamily: Trochoidea

Family: Turbinidae (Turban Shell)

Snail

Superfamily: Trochoidea

Family: Turbinidae (Turban Shell)

Snail

Superfamily: Trochoidea

Family: Turbinidae (Turban Shell)

[Polished]

Star Shells

Snail

Superfamily: Trochoidea

Family: Turbinidae (Star Shell)

Species: Angaria sphaerula

Basilan Island, South Philippines

[top view]

Snail

Superfamily: Trochoidea

Family: Turbinidae (Star Shell)

Species: Angaria sphaerula

Basilan Island, South Philippines

[bottom view]

Snail

Superfamily: Trochoidea

Family: Turbinidae (Star Shell)

Species: Bolma gurgyilus

Bohol, Philippines

[side view]

Snail

Superfamily: Trochoidea

Family: Turbinidae (Star Shell)

[Top view]

Snail

Superfamily: Trochoidea

Family: Turbinidae (Star Shell)

[Bottom view]

Snail

Superfamily: Trochoidea

Family: Turbinidae (Star Shell)

[Broken spines]

Nerites

Snail

Superfamily: Neritoidea

Family: Nertidae (Nerites)

Species: Neritina communis

Southwest Pacific 34 in (2 cm)

Snail

Superfamily: Neritoidea

Family: Nertidae (Nerites)

Snail

Superfamily: Neritoidea

Family: Nertidae (Nerites)

Winkles

Snail

Superfamily: Littorinoidea

Family: Littorinidae (Winkles)

Littorina sp.

Screw Shells

Snail

Superfamily: Cerithioidea

Family: Turritellidae (Screw Shell)

Species: Turritella terebra

“Tower Screw Shell”

Tropical Indo Pacific 5.5 in (14 cm)

Snail

Superfamily: Cerithioidea

Family: Turritellidae (Screw Shells)

Species: Turritella Sanguinea

South Africa

Snail

Superfamily: Cerithioidea

Family: Turritellidae (Screw Shells)

Species: Turritella goniostoma

Guaymas, Mexico

Snail

Superfamily: Cerithioidea

Family: Turritellidae (Screw Shell)

Species: Turritella terebra

“Tower Screw Shell”

Tropical Indo Pacific 5.5 in (14 cm)

Snail

Superfamily: Cerithioidea

Family: Turritellidae (Screw Shells)

Snail

Superfamily: Cerithioidea

Family: Turritellidae (Screw Shells)

Species: Turritella cooperi

Guaymas, Mexico

Worm Shells

Snail

Superfamily: Cyraeoidea

Family: Cypraeidae

Species: Cypraea sp.

Galveston, Texas

Ceriths

Snail

Superfamily: Cerithioidea

Family: Ceriths

 

Snail

Superfamily: Cerithioidea

Family: Ceriths

 

Snail

Superfamily: Cerithioidea

Family: Ceriths

 

Sundials

Snail

Superfamily: Architectonicoidea

Family: Architectonicidae

Snail

Superfamily: Architectonicoidea

Family: Architectonicidae

Species: Architectonica perspectiva 

“Clear Sundial”

Tropical Indo Pacific 2 in. (5cm)

Snail

Superfamily: Architectonicoidea

Family: Architectonicidae

Species: Architectonica nubilis

Mustang Island

Purple Sea Snails

Snail

Superfamily: Epitonioidea

Family: Janthinidae (Purple Sea Snails)

Species: Janthina janthina

“Common Purple Sea Snail”

Worldwide 1.5 in (4 cm)

Slipper Shells

Snail

Superfamily: Crepiduloidea

Family: Crepidulidae (Slipper Shells)

Snail

Superfamily: Crepiduloidea

Family: Crepidulidae (Slipper Shells)

Species: Crepidula fornicata 

“Atlantic Slipper”

Northeastern U.S.A. Northwest Europe 1.5 in. (4 cm)

Snail

Superfamily: Crepiduloidea

Family: Crepidulidae (Slipper Shells)

Carrier Shells

Snail

Superfamily: Xenophoroidea

Family: Xenophoridae (Carrier Shells)

Species: Xenophora pallidula

Indo Pacific, South Africa, Japan

3 in. (7.5 cm)

True Conchs

Snail

Superfamily: Stromboidiea

Family: Strombidae (True Conchs)

Species: Strombus latissimus 

“Broad Pacific Conch”

West Pacific 6 in (15 cm) [underside]

Snail

Superfamily: Stromboidiea

Family: Strombidae (True Conchs)

Species: Strombus latissimus 

“Broad Pacific Conch”

West Pacific 6 in (15 cm) [top]

Snail

Superfamily: Stromboidiea

Family: Strombidae (True Conchs)

Species: Strombus lentiginosus 

“Silver Conch”

Tropical Indo Pacific 3 in (7.5 cm)

Snail

Superfamily: Stromboidea

Family: Strombidae (True Conchs)

Species: Strombus canarium

“Dog Conch”

Tropical Indo Pacific 2.5 in. (6 cm)

Snail

Superfamily: Stromboidea

Family: Strombidae (True Conchs)

Species: Strombus urceus

“Little Bear Conch”

West Pacific 2 in. ( cm)

Snail

Superfamily: Strombidae

Family: Strombidae (True Conchs)

Species: Strombus pugilis

“West Indian Fighting Conch”

3 in. (7.5 cm)

Snail

Superfamily: Stromboidea

Family: Strombidae (True Conch)

Snail

Superfamily: Stromboidea

Family: Strombidae (True Conchs)

“Hawk wing Conch”

Snail

Superfamily: Stromboidea

Family: Strombidae (True Conchs)

Genus: Tibia

“Arabian Tibia”

Snail

Superfamily: Stromboidiea

Family: Strombidae (True Conchs)

Species: Strombus gigas 

“Pink Conch”

Southeast Florida, West Indies

9 in. (23 cm) 1

Snail

Superfamily: Stromboidea

Family: Strombidae (True Conchs)

Species: Lambis chiragra

“Chiragra Spider Conch”

Tropical Indo Pacific

male 6.5 in. (16 cm)

Snail

Superfamily: Stromboidea

Family: Stromboidea (True Conchs)

Species: Conmerex luhuanus

Kwajalein

Cowries

Cowries

Superfamily: Cyraeoidea

Family: Cypraeidae

Species: Cypraea tigris “Tiger Cowry”

Indo Pacific 3.5 in. (9 cm)

Cowries

Superfamily: Cyraeoidea

Family: Cypraeidae

Cowry

Cowries

Superfamily: Cyraeoidea

Family: Cypraeidae

Cowry

Cowries

Superfamily: Cyraeoidea

Family: Cypraeidae

Cowry

Cowries

Superfamily: Cyraeoidea

Family: Cypraeidae

Cowry

Cowries

Superfamily: Cyraeoidea

Family: Cypraeidae

Species: Cypraea moneta “Money Cowry”

Tropical Indo Pacific 1 in. (2.5 cm)

Cowries

Superfamily: Cyraeoidea

Family: Cypraeidae

Species: Cypraea errones

Cowries

Superfamily: Cyraeoidea

Family: Cypraeidae

Species: Cypraea diluculum

Tanzania

Cowries

Superfamily: Cyraeoidea

Family: Cypraeidae

Species: Cypraea mappa “Map Cowry”

Indo Pacific 3 in. (7.5 cm) 

Cowries

Superfamily: Cyraeoidea

Family: Cypraeidae

Cowries

Superfamily: Cyraeoidea

Family: Cypraeidae

Species: Cypraea sp.

Galveston, Texas

Cowries

Superfamily: Cyraeoidea

Family: Cypraeidae

Species: Nucleolaria nucleus f. madagascariensis

Zanzibar Island Tanzania

21.0 23.3 mm

Shuttle Shells

Snail

Superfamily: Cypraeoidea

Family: Ovulidae (Shuttle Shells)

Species: Cyphoma gibbosum

“Flamingo Tongue”

Southest Florida to Brazil 1 in. (2.5 cm)

Snail

Superfamily: Cypraeoidea

Family: Ovulidae (Shuttle Shells)

0.5 in.

Snail

Superfamily: Cypraeoidea

Family: Ovulidae (Shuttle Shells)

on Sea Whip Simnia Simmis marferula

Gorgonia Port Aransas to South Padre Island

Moon Shells

Snail

Superfamily: Naticoidea

Family: Naticidae (Moon Snails)

Snail

Superfamily: Naticoidea

Family: Naticidae (Moon Snail)

Snail

Superfamily: Naticoidea

Family: Naticidae (Moon Snail)

Helmet Shells

Snail

Superfamily: Tonnoidea

Family: Cassidae (Helmet Shalls)

Snail

Superfamily: Tonnoidea

Family: Cassidae (Helmet Shalls)

Snail

Superfamily: Tonnoidea

Family: Cassidae (Helmet Shells)

Tun Shells

Snail

Superfamily: Tonnoidea

Family: Tonnidae (Tun Shells)

“Giant Tun”

Snail

Superfamily: Tonnoidea

Family: Tonnidae (Tun Shells)

“Giant Tun”

Snail

Superfamily: Tonnoidea

Family: Tonnidae (Tun Shells)

“Giant Tun”

Tritons

Snail

Superfamily: Tonnoidea

Family: Ranellidae (Tritons)

“Triton”

[Top view]

[SideSnail

Superfamily: Tonnoidea

Family: Ranellidae (Tritons)

“Triton”

[Bottom view]

Snail

Superfamily: Tonnoidea

Family: Ranellidae (Tritons)

Species: Cymatium pileare 

“Common Hairy Triton”

Most warm seas 5 in. (13 cm)

Snail

Superfamily: Tonnoidea

Family: Ranellidae (Tritons)

Snail

Superfamily: Tonnoidea

Family: Ranellidae (Tritons)

Species: Gyrineum perca 

“Maple Leaf Triton”

Tropical Indo Pacific 1 in. (2.5 cm)

Snail

Superfamily: Tonnoidea

Family: Ranellidae (Tritons)

“Triton”

Distorsios

Snail

Superfamily: Tonnoidea

Family: Ranellidae (Distorsios)

Species: Distorsio clathrata

“Atlantic Distorsio”

North Carolina to Brazil 3 in. (7.5 cm)

Snail

Superfamily: Tonnoidea

Family: Ranellidae (Distorsios)

Snail

Superfamily: Tonnoidea

Family: Ranellidae (Distorsios)

Frog Shells

Snail

Superfamily: Tonnoidea

Family: Bursidae (Frog Shell)

Snail

Superfamily: Tonnoidea

Family: Bursidae (Frog Shell)

Snail

Superfamily: Tonnoidea

Family: Bursidae (Frog Shell)

Murexes

Snail

Superfamily: Muricoidea

Family: Muricidae (Murex)

Snail

Superfamily: Muricoidea

Family: Muricidae (Venus Comb Murex)

Snail

Superfamily: Muricoidea

Family: Muricidae (Venus Comb Murex)

Snail

Superfamily: Muricoidea

Family: Muricidae (Murex)

Snail

Superfamily: Muricoidea

Family: Muricidae (Murex)

Snail

Superfamily: Muricoidea

Family: Muricidae (Murex)

Snail

Superfamily: Muricoidea

Family: Muricidae (Murex)

Species: Thais haemostoma

Snail

Superfamily: Muricoidea

Family: Muricidae (Branched Murex)

Species: Chicoreus chicoreus

Snail

Superfamily: Muricoidea

Family: Muricidae (Branched Murex)

Species: Chiroreus regius

Snail

Superfamily: Muricoidea

Family: Muricidae (Branched Murex)

Snail

Superfamily: Muricoidea

Family: Muricidae (Murex)

Snail

Superfamily: Muricoidea

Family: Muricidae (Branched Murex)

Melon Conchs

Snail

Superfamily: Muricoidea

Family: Melongenidae (Melon Conch)

[cross sections]

Snail

Superfamily: Muricoidea

Family: Melongenidae (Melon Conch)

Snail

Superfamily: Muricoidea

Family: Melongenidae (Melon Conch)

Species: Melongena corona

Busycon Whelks

Snail

Superfamily: Muricoidea

Family: Melongenidae (Busycon Whelks)

Species: Busycon 

Snail

Superfamily: Muricoidea

Family: Melongenidae (Busycon Whelks)

Species: Busycon contrarium

“Lightening Whelk”

Snail

Superfamily: Muricoidea

Family: Melongenidae (Busycon Whelks)

Species: Busycon contrarium

“Lightening Whelk”

Horse Conch

Snail

Superfamily: Muricoidea

Family: Fasciolariidae “Horse Conchs”

Species: Triplofusus gigantea

Florida

Snail

Superfamily: Muricoidea

Family: Fasciolariidae (Horse Conchs)

Species: Pleuroploca trapezium 

“Trapezium Horse Conch”

Tropical Indo Pacific 5 in. (13 cm)

Snail

Superfamily: Muricoidea

Family: Fasciolariidae “Horse Conchs”

Tulip Shells

Snail

Superfamily: Muricoidea

Family: Fasciolariidae (Tulip Shells)

Species: Fasciolaria “True Tulip”

Snail

Superfamily: Muricoidea

Family: Fasciolariidae (Tulip Shells)

Species: Fasciolaria lilium “Banded Tulip”

East and Southern United States

3.5 in. (9 cm)

Snail

Superfamily: Muricoidea

Family: Fasciolariidae (Tulip Shells)

Species: Fasciolaria tulipa “True Tulip”

Southern United States, West Indies, Brazil

5 in. (13 cm)

Spindles

Snail

Superfamily: Muricoidea

Family: Fasciolariidae (Spindles)

Species: Fusinus salisburyi

Tropical Pacific 5 in. (13 cm)

Olive Shells

Snail

Superfamily: Muricoidea

Family: Olividae (Olive)

Species: Olivancillaria gibbosa 

“Swollen Olive”

Sri Lanka, S. India 2in (5 cm)

Snail

Superfamily: Muricoidea

Family: Olividae (Olive)

Species: Oliva sayana “Lettered Olive”

S.E. United States, Caribbean 2 in (5 cm)

Snail

Superfamily: Muricoidea

Family: Olividae (Olives)

Snail

Superfamily: Muricoidea

Family: Olividae (Olive)

Species: Oliva miniacea

Tropical Indo Pacific 2.5 in (6 cm)

Snail

Superfamily: Muricoidea

Family: Olividae (Olive)

Species: Oliva porphyria “Tent Olive”

Gulf of California to Panama 3 in (9 cm)

Snail

Superfamily: Muricoidea

Family: Olividae (Olive)

Species: Oliva sp.

Miters

Snail

Superfamily: Muricoidea

Family: Mitridae (Miters)

Species: Mitra mitra “Episcopal Miter”

Tropical Indo-Pacific 4 in (10 am)

Snail

Superfamily: Muricoidea

Family: Mitridae (Miters)

Species: Nebularia ferruginea

Snail

Superfamily: Muricoidea

Family: Mitridae (Miters)

Species: Neocancilla papillio

Kwajelein Republic of the Marshal Islands

Vases

Snail

Superfamily: Muricoidea

Family: Vasidae (Vases)

Species: Vasum turbinellus

Snail

Superfamily: Muricoidea

Family: Vasidae (Vases)

Species: Vasum tubiferum

Snail

Superfamily: Muricoidea

Family: Vasidae (Vases)

Species: Vasum turbinellus

Harps

Snail

Superfamily: Muricoidea

Family: Harpidae (Harps)

Species: Harpa articularis

Snail

Superfamily: Muricoidea

Family: Harpidae (Harps)

Species: Harpa amouretta

Port Aransas, TX

Snail

Superfamily: Muricoidea

Family: Harpidae (Harps)

Species: Harpa amouretta

Volutes

Snail

Superfamily: Muricoidea

Family: Volutidae (Volutes)

Snail

Superfamily: Muricoidea

Family: Volutidae (Volutes) 1

Snail

Superfamily: Muricoidea

Family: Volutidae (Volutes) 2

Snail

Superfamily: Muricoidea

Family: Volutidae (Volutes)

Species: Scaphella junonia

Junonia N. Carolina to Gulf of Mexico

Snail

Superfamily: Muricoidea

Family: Volutidae (Volutes)

Species: Scaphella dubia “Kiener’s Volute”

West Florida to Texas

Snail

Superfamily: Muricoidea

Family: Volutidae (Volutes)

Snail

Superfamily: Muricoidea

Family: Volutidae (Volutes)

Snail

Superfamily: Muricoidea

Family: Volutidae (Volutes)

Species: Voluta musica “Music Volutes”

West Indies

Snail

Superfamily: Muricoidea

Family: Volutidae (Volutes)

Species: Alicithe grabica

South Australia

Margin Shells

Snail

Superfamily: Muricoidea

Family: Marginellidae (Margin Shells)

Species: Bullata bullata Blistered Margin Shell

Brazil 2.5 in (6cm)

Cones

Snail

Superfamily: Conoidea

Family: Conidae

Species: Conus marmoreus

“Marbled Cone”

Snail

Superfamily: Conoidea

Family: Conidae

Cones

Snail

Superfamily: Conoidea

Family: Conidae

Cones

Snail

Superfamily: Conoidea

Family: Conidae (Cones)

Species: Conus textile “Textile Cone”

Tropical Indo Pacific 3.5 in (9 cm)

Snail

Superfamily: Conoidea

Family: Conidae

Cones

Snail

Superfamily: Conoidea

Family: Conidae

Species: Conus figulinus

Snail

Superfamily: Conoidea

Family: Conidae

Species: Conus australis

Snail

Superfamily: Conoidea

Family: Conidae

Species: Conus inscriptus

Snail

Superfamily: Conoidea

Family: Conidae

Species: Conus stercusmuscarum

Indo Pacific

Snail 

Superfamily: Conoidea

Family: Conidae

Species: Conus tulipa

Samar Island Philippines

Snail

Superfamily: Conoidea

Family: Conidae

Species: Leptoconus castaneofasciatus

Indo Pacific Thailand Phuket Island

Snail

Superfamily: Conoidea

Family: Conidae

Species: Conus sugimitonus

Auger Shells

Snail

Superfamily: Conoidea

Family: Terebridae (Augar Shells)

Snail

Superfamily: Conoidea

Family: Terebridae (Augar Shells)

Species: Terebra areolata 

“Fly Spotted Auger”

Tropical Indo Pacific 4.5 in (12cm)

Snail

Superfamily: Conoidea

Family: Terebridae (Augar Shells)

Bubble Shells

Snail

Superfamily: Philinoidea (Bubble Shells)

Snail

Superfamily: Philinoidea (Bubble Shells)

Snail

Superfamily: Philinoidea (Bubble Shells)

Land Snails

Land Snail

Land Snail

Land Snail

Land Snail

Land Snail

Land Snail

Data: Dance, S. Peter, Smithsonian Handbook: Shells, The photographic regognition guide to seashells of the world. A Dorling Kindersley Book.

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