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Updated 2/21/2026

Family Xenophoridae

Carrier shells

These unusual snails inhabit soft bottoms, often in very deep water, and camouflage themselves by adhering rock, shells, coral, and other hard items.  Most are dredged, trapped or netted.  One endemic subspecies occurs in Hawaii.

HAWAII - ENDEMIC

Xenophora peroniana kondoi

HAWAIIAN CARRIER SHELL

 

  

INDO-PACIFIC

Xenophora cerea

ROUGH CARRIER SHELL

 

 Xenophora japonica

JAPANESE CARRIER SHELL