Clanculus is an old genus. Fossils found in Italy date from the Pliocene (C. corallinus, C. elevatus, C. bonfittoi, C. jussieui) The distribution of this genus is worldwide, individuals of some species sometimes occur in great numbers, from the intertidal zone up to depths of 200 m. Many species can be found in Australia, New Zealand, the Indo-Pacific, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Seychelles, Japan, South Africa, Zanzibar, Indian Ocean, the Red Sea, West Africa, Angola, North Africa and Europe.
Shell description
These top shells are wide-conical and low spired. Their spirally ribbed sculpture consists of conspicuous regular rows of robust, round beads. The whorls show a profile with a deep suture and the final whorl inflated. The aperture of the shell is oval, with a strongly ridged lip. The umbilicus is generally deep. The color of the shell varies between orange, dark red, and chocolate brown.
Species
The type species, Clanculus pharaonius, was described by Linnaeus in 1758 as Trochus pharaonius.
Subgenus Clanculus (Paraclanculus) Finlay, 1926
Clanculus (Paraclanculus) peccatus (Finlay, 1926)
Species brought into synonymy
Clanculus alfredensis Bartsch, 1915: synonym of Clanculus miniatus (Anton, 1838)
Clanculus angeli Tenison-Woods, 1877: synonym of Clanculus plebejus (Philippi, 1852)
Clanculus assabensis Caramagna, 1888 : synonym of Clanculus tonnerrei (G. Nevill & H. Nevill, 1874)
Clanculus becki Turton, 1932: synonym of Clanculus miniatus (Anton, 1838)
Clanculus bicrenatus Gould, 1849: synonym of Trochus bicrenatus Gould, 1849
Clanculus blainvillii Cantraine, 1842: synonym of Clanculus jussieui (Payraudeau, 1826)
Clanculus blandus Dunker, 1865 (nomen nudum): synonym of Clanculus stigmatarius A. Adams, 1853
Clanculus callicoccus (Philippi, 1849): synonym of Trochus callicoccus Philippi, 1849
