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.