General Description

Shell round, green with white zigzag stripes. Trapdoor covering the opening (operculum) is white and round. Shell up to 4 cm long.

Biology

Pacific Gulls grab Turban Shells from the shore and drop them from heights onto rocks to crack the thick shell and extract the snail. They are commercially harvested in Tasmania. Empty shells are often found in Aboriginal middens.

Habitat

Crevices, rock pools, and subtidal rocky reefs.

Reefs

Coastal shores

Distribution guide

Southern Australia.

Species Group

Sea snails and shells › Snails

Depth

Shore (0-1 m)
Shallow (1-30 m)

Water Column

On or near sea floor

Max Size

4 cm

Diet

Herbivore

Commercial Species

No

Global Dispersal

Native to Australia

Species Code

MoV 4878

Conservation Status

• DSE Advisory List : Not listed
• EPBC Act 1999 : Not listed
• IUCN Red List : Not listed