TOPS & TURBANS

A diverse group of herbivorous snails, that develop mostly conical hat-shaped and operculate shells. The variety is as rich as the color palettes; in fact it is hard to put together a group of 12 species up for display, and I feel I left out some of the most popular taxa, perhaps I´ll complete my work later when I have good representatives to exhibit.

Angaria sphaerula

Kiener, 1838

76mm. Balut Is. Philippines.

A famous and legendary deeper water turban, that is extremely variable in terms of shape and color. The thin, delicate spines form wedges and branches, that are almost never perfect, adding to the rereness of an attractive shell.

Bolma girgyllus

Philippi, R.A., 1846

63.9mm. Balut Is. Philippines.

This delicately-fronded, deep water Bolma, comes in a wide array of pastel colors and patterns. One of the nicest variations, but not a particularly common one, is the solid lemon one shown here.

Bolma andersoni

Philippi, R.A., 1846

94.4mm. Aliwal shoal. RSA.

This prized collectors item is a large, heavy and coarsely sculptured shell, with a vibrant orange columellar callus. Some shells exhibit violet early whorls as the portrayed specimen. Shells in perfect condition are hard to find.

Astraea heliotropium

Martyn, 1784

101.2mm. Nelson, North Is. New Zealand.

The sun-burst turban; considered by some the king of the family. This former rarity is a rough species; it is hard to get a nice one.

Turbo cailletii

Fischer, P. & A.C. Bernardi, 1856

28.5mm. Roatan Island, Honduras.

This huge specimen is dark red with dark green spiral grooves. Most shells are not as large or as striking as the one shown here.

Astralium stellare

Gmelin, 1791

40mm. West Australia.

A rather chalky, dull white shell - with an extraordinarily sky-blue colored columella and operculum. A unique among shells.

Turbo canaliculatus

Hermann,1781

80.9mm. Bahia. Brazil.

This handsomely sculptured turban is the largest of its genus in the Caribbean. It is rather uncommon and often scarred.

Bellastraea squamifera

Koch, F.C.L., 1844

30.7mm. SW. Bank, West Australia.

lemon yellow base, with a violet columella and operculum. What could be the advantage of such a contrasting color scheme?

Turbo crassus

Wood, 1828

50.7mm. Khaolak, Phang Nga; Thailand.

A common Indo-Pacific shell. The particular population of the specimen shown develops gorgeous turquoise-green shells.

Lithopoma phoebium

Röding, P.F., 1798

61mm. Guadeloupe

A spectacular species, which is very flat and has long curving spines. The large shell is usually covered witha a coppery sheen.

Turbo petholatus

Linnaeus, 1758

57.4mm. Papua, New Guinea.

An absolutely superb species! Indeed looks like tapestry. The depicted shell is unusual in having peacock green spiral ribbons.