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Home > Invertebrates
> Shells > Turbinate Shells
Updated 10/10/2026
Subclass Vestigastropoda
Order
Trochida
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Trochids are herbivorous or detritivorous snails with
stout conical or inflated shells, some having a mother-of-pearl interior.
This large group is well-represented in warm and cool seas from
tidepools to the deep sea.
Families are organized by anatomical features such as the operculum, a
thick calcareous ‘cat’s eye’ in turbans, or a thin protein-based operculum
in tops. Most local species
measure less than half an inch (12 mm), falling into the micromollusk
category, and Hawaiians on Ni’ihau weave exquisite lei including tiny
kahelelani shells.
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Family Trochidae
Top Snails
| Tops shells are herbivorous snails with a thin yellow-brown operculum. The interior is lined with
mother-of-pearl. |
INDO-PACIFIC / HAWAII
| Trochus intextus
HAWAIIAN or
WOVEN TOP HĀ‘UPU |
Alcyna ocellata
OCELLATED TOP |
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Calliotrochus marmoreus
MARBLED TOP
KAHELELANI
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Synaptocochlea concinna
PRETTY EAR SHELL |
INDO-PACIFIC
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Clanculus margaritarius
BEAUTIFUL TOP
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Trochus radiatus
RADIATE TOP
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Monilea belcheri
BELCHER'S TOP
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Family
Calliostomatidae
| Shells have a chitinous operculum and until recently this group
included within Family Trochidae. None occur in Hawaii. |
NORTHEAST PACIFIC
| Calliostoma ligatum
WESTERN RIBBED or BLUE TOP SHELL
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Calliostoma annlatum
BLUE-RING TOP SHELL
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Family Chilodontidae
Toothed Top Shells
| Micromollusks formerly included within Family Trochidae. They have
prominent teeth on the lower columella, a chitinous operculum, and pearly
interior. |
INDO-PACIFIC / HAWAII
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Herpetopoma gemmatum
GEM TOP |
Herpetopoma gemmatum
GEM TOP |
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Family Tegulidae
INDO-PACIFIC
| Tectus
pyramis
PYRAMID or GREEN TOP SHELL
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Rochia
nilotica
PEARLY TOP SHELL
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CALIFORNIA
| Norrisia
norrisi
NORRIS' TOP SHELL
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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, juv
KĀMOA |
Turbo sandwicensis
HAWAIIAN TURBAN
KĀMOA
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INDO-PACIFIC
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Turbo petholatus
TAPESTRY TURBAN
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Turbo marmoratus
GREAT GREEN TURBAN
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CALIFORNIA
| Megastraea
undosa
WAVY TURBAN
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Family Colloniidae
| These herbivorous micromollusks were formerly included within Family
Turbinidae. They have a calcareous operculum and pearly or white
interior. |
INDO-PACIFIC / HAWAII
|
Microcollonia candida
CANDID TURBAN
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Microcollonia rubricincta
RED-BANDED TURBAN
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Homalopoma
verruca
WARTY TURBAN KAHELELANI |
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Family
Phasianellidae
Pheasant Shells
| Tiny herbivorous snails associated with seaweed. Most are so
fragile and tiny that they go unnoticed on reefs and beaches. The
aperture lacks teeth and the operculum is calcareous. |
INDO-PACIFIC / HAWAII
|
Hiloa variabilis
VARIABLE PHEASANT
SHELL |
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Order Caenogastropoda
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This order contains a large number of
families with the common trait of being herbivorous or
detritivorous. The few
shells included in this section for convenience have shapes
similar to those within Order Trochacea.
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Superfamily Campaniloidea
Family
Plesiotrochidae
INDO-PACIFIC / HAWAII
|
Plesiotrochus
unicinctus
SINGLE-BANDED TOP |
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Superfamily Cerithioidea
Family Modulidae
| Modulids are herbivorous snails that possess a strong peg-like tooth on the columella. One species occurs in Hawaii. |
INDO-WEST PACIFIC / HAWAII
|
Indomodulus tectum
KNOBBY SNAIL
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Family Planaxidae
| Small herbivorous snails that inhabit rock reefs and tidepools. |
HAWAII - ENDEMIC
|
Fossarus cumingii
CUMING'S FOSSARUS |
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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 acuta
ACUTE VANIKORO |
Vanikoro cancellata
LATTICE VANIKORO |
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