Tegula Snails

Tegula or Turban Snails

Tegula Snails

Upper left, Tegula. aureotincta, upper right, Tegula eiseni, lower left T. gallina (uncommon, but present at Cabrillo) and lower right the ubiquitous T. funebralis. The genus has been changed for all of them. Chlorostoma is one, and Pyrgiscus is another.

  • Common grazers in rocky intertidal areas
  • Often supporting Collisella asmi and Crepidula spp. on shell
  • Many hermit crabs depend on their empty shells
  • Often host to small white parasitic snails in umbilicus
  • Long lived, 20-30 years

Tegula Snails

Tegula Snails

Tegula funebralisTegula Snails

  • Common grazer on many types of algae in high intertidal pools and benches
  • Dark
  • No umbilicus
  • Hatchings on sutures
  • To 30mm in diameter
  • Often supporting Collisella asmi and Crepidula spp. on shell
  • Many hermit crabs depend on their empty shells
  • Long lived, 20-30 years

Tegula eiseniTegula Snails

  • Common throughout intertidal and kelp forest.
  • Frequently on boulders, benches, tidepools, and under rocks
  • Umbilicus present
  • Often with beads or spiral sculpture
  • Up to 25mm
  • One of the most common intertidal snails

Tegula aureotinctaTegula Snails

  • Slightly larger than eiseni
  • Umbilicus w/ distinctive orange patch
  • Low broad spiral ridges along bottom and body whorl
  • Up to 40mm
  • Less common than T. eiseni or T. funnebralis, but found throughout intertidal and kelp forest

The TegulasTegula Snails

Last revised 29-Jul-13