Home > Invertebrates > Shells > Turbinate Shells

Updated 2/21/2025

Top Snails

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

Family Trochidae

INDO-PACIFIC / HAWAII

Trochus intextus

HAWAIIAN or WOVEN TOP SHELL

 

 Calliotrochus marmoreus

MARBLED TOP SHELL
   

INDO-PACIFIC

Monilea belcheri

BELCHER'S TOP SHELL

 

 Trochus radiatus

RADIATE TOP SHELL
   

Family Plesiotrochidae

INDO-PACIFIC / HAWAII

Plesiotrochus unicinctus

SINGLE-BANDED TOP

 
   

Family Tegulidae

INDO-PACIFIC

Tectus pyramis

PYRAMID or GREEN TOP SHELL

 

 Rochia nilotica

PEARLY TOP SHELL
   

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 - ENDEMIC

Turbo sandwicensis

HAWAIIAN TURBAN

 

 

INDO-PACIFIC / HAWAII

Collonista rubricincta

RED-BANDED TURBAN

Collonista verruca

WARTY TURBAN

 

 

INDO-PACIFIC

Turbo petholatus

TAPESTRY TURBAN

 

 

 

CALIFORNIA

Megastraea undosa

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

 

 Calliostoma annlatum

BLUE-RING TOP SHELL

Family Modulidae

Modular Snails

Modulids are herbivorous snails that possess a strong peg-like tooth on the columella.  One species occurs in Hawaii.

INDO-WEST PACIFIC / HAWAII

Modulus tectum

 

KNOBBY SNAIL

 

Family Vanikoridae

Vanikoro snails

Vanikorids are small carnivorous snails rarely encountered alive in rubble or dead coral.  They have a turbinate shell with an umbilicus, thin operculum, and hairy periostracum.  Four species occur in Hawaii.

 INDO-PACIFIC / HAWAII

Vanikoro cancellatus

CANCELLATE VANIKORO