Home > Invertebrates > Shells > Worm Shells

Updated 2/23/2024

Family Vermetidae

Worm Snails

Worm snails are suspension-feeding gastropods that have tubular uncoiled shells attached to the substrate.  Some aggregate to form reefs of their own, forming mats along the water's edge.  The aperture is razor-sharp causing painful cookie-cutter wounds if stepped on.

Mucus net extended for food collection

Reef of consolidated vermetid shells

 

HAWAII - ENDEMIC

Dendropoma psarocephalum

RIBBED WORM SNAIL 

 

Dendropoma rhyssoconchum

FRILLED WORM SNAIL 

 
 

 

CIRCUMTROPICAL / HAWAII

Eualetes tulipa

ALI'I WORM SNAIL

 

 

INDO-PACIFIC / HAWAII

Thylacodes variabilis

VARIABLE WORM SNAIL

 

 Petaloconchus keenae

KEEN'S WORM SNAIL

 

 Dendropoma gregarium

GREGARIOUS WORM SNAIL

  

 

INDO-PACIFIC

Ceraesignum maximum

GREAT WORM SNAIL

 

TROPICAL EASTERN PACIFIC

Thylacodes squamigerus

WESTERN or SCALY WORM SNAIL