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Updated 2/9/2026

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 SHELL 

 

Dendropoma rhyssoconchum

FRILLED WORM SHELL 

 
 

 

CIRCUMTROPICAL / HAWAII

Eualetes tulipa

TULIP WORM SHELL

 

 

INDO-PACIFIC / HAWAII

Thylacodes variabilis

VARIABLE WORM SHELL

 

 Petaloconchus keenae

KEEN'S WORM SHELL

 

 Dendropoma gregarium

GREGARIOUS WORM SHELL

 

Dendropoma platypus

WHITE WORM SHELL

 

 

INDO-PACIFIC

Ceraesignum maximum

GREAT WORM SHELL

 

TROPICAL EASTERN PACIFIC

Thylacodes squamigerus

WESTERN or SCALY WORM SHELL