Home > Invertebrates > Shells > Tops & Turbans

Family Trochidae

Top Snails

Tops are herbivorous snails that possess a thin yellow-brown operculum.  The shell's interior is lined with mother-of-pearl.

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HAWAII

Trochus intextus  

HAWAIIAN or WOVEN TOP SNAIL

 


CALIFORNIA

Norrisia norrisi

NORRIS' TOP SHELL

 



Family Turbinidae

Turbans

Turbans are herbivorous snails that possess a thick calcareous operculum called a 'cat's eye'.  The interior is lined with mother-of-pearl.

HAWAII

Turbo sandwicensis

HAWAIIAN TURBAN   

 

Collonista verruca

WARTY TURBAN

 

Collonista rubricincta

RED-BANDED TURBAN

 


CALIFORNIA

Lithopoma undosum

WAVY TURBAN

 



Family Calliostomatidae

Shells have a chitinous operculum and until recently this group was a subfamily of the Trochidae.

NORTHEAST PACIFIC

Calliostoma ligatum

WESTERN RIBBED or BLUE TOP SHELL