The inner marginals are very large, with large cusps.[3]. It has a large, thick, green-gray shell with irregular incremental striae and spiral lirae. Thank you for reading. Turbo is a genus of large sea snails with gills and an operculum, marine gastropod molluscs in the family Turbinidae, the turban snails.[2].
This outer surface is white or tinged with brown and olive, more or less sharply asperate with elevated points, and with a spiral rib commencing in an axial elevation and terminating at the margin of increment.
Tectus fenestratus The Turban Snail is a powerhouse that helps keep live rock and aquarium glass free of algae. Alf A., Kreipl K. & Poppe G. T. (2003) The Family Turbinidae, Subfamily Turbininae, Genus Turbo. According to Fukuda 2017, Turbo cornutus should be restricted to the species endemic to southern China and Taiwan. Visiting the Australian Museum safely during COVID-19, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Collection, Australian Museum Research Institute (AMRI), Natural Sciences research and collections, Australian Museum Lizard Island Research Station, 2020 Australian Museum Eureka Prizes finalists, Become a volunteer at the Australian Museum. The central teeth contain no cusps. According to Alf et al. This arrangement produces an operculum which exhibits all the whorls beneath, but which is only feebly, or not obviously spiral above, from the more or less general distribution of the calcareous matter. (eds. You have reached the end of the main content. [4] the genus Turbo is divided in 16 Recent subgenera. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. This marine species occurs off the Mascarene Basin, the Philippines, Jeju Island and China. Frequently the central teeth are asymmetrical in this group. It can be found around China. The first Turbo species were found in the Upper Cretaceous, approximately 100 million years ago.
This eastern Pacific Ocean species was … These opercula are sometimes known as "cat's eyes". The median, lateral and marginal teeth are always present, and the formula is invariably ∞.5.1.5.∞. Image credit: gadigal yilimung (shield) made by Uncle Charles Chicka Madden. The oblique aperture is rounded and is about 3.5 cm in diameter, and is green or red-brown. If you lift a Turban Snail from its position on the rock, the animal will retreat inside its shell and close the 'door' or operculum. Turbo is the type genus of the family. Turban snails are omnivores. Due to an anatomical quirk of growth of gastropods, the anus is located on its head. Young horned turban shells eat red-turf algae, while adults eat larger seaweed. [ 8, 9, 10] However, most of the snails and slugs we find in our gardens are not natives. [citation needed]. — [ 1] Wavy turban snails can be prepared many ways: grilled, sautéed, battered and fried, in pastas, in chowders and soups, and in stir-fries. The broad columellais flattened and somewhat grooved, produced and channelled at its base. The species in Japan is Turbo sazae.[4]. Tegula funebralis, the black turban snail or black tegula, is a species of medium-sized marine sea snail in the family Tegulidae.
The attractively colored operculum of at least two different Turbo species has been used for various decorative purposes, including in jewelry and buttons. Turbo cornutus, common name the horned turban, is a species of sea snail, marine gastropod mollusk in the family Turbinidae. Called a Turban Snail because of the pattern and shape of its shell, this medium- to large-sized snail feeds on algae on rock platforms. Bouchet, P.; Rosenberg, G. (2012). The operculum is not edible, and must be discarded along with the animal's shell after eating. The will eat: phytoplankton, especially hair algae or filamentous algae, cyanobacteria and diatoms. The Australian Museum respects and acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation as the First Peoples and Traditional Custodians of the land and waterways on which the Museum stands. Receive the latest news on events, exhibitions, science research and special offers. When the Caribbean hermit crab, Coenobita clypeatus, or "purple pincher" as it is known in the pet trade is kept as a house pet, Turbo shells are a favorite choice of shells for the crab.
The lower series of spines is sometimes absent. The shell has about 5-6 whorls, which turn clockwise and have horny protuberances. Turban snails will do best in an aquarium with lots of green algae for them to eat, and they will eat a lot of green algae … Turban snails live on intertidal rock platforms to a depth of 10 metres.