Gastropods, commonly known as slugs and snails, belong to a large taxonomic class of invertebrates within the phylum Mollusca called Gastropoda.
The gastropod shell is part of the body of a gastropod or snail, a kind of mollusc. The shell is an exoskeleton, which protects from predators, mechanical damage, and dehydration, but also serves for muscle attachment and calcium storage. Some gastropods appear shell-less (slugs) but may have a remnant within the mantle, or in some cases the shell is reduced such that the body cannot be retracted within it (semi-slug). Some snails also possess an operculum that seals the opening of the shell, known as the aperture, which provides further protection. The study of mollusc shells is known as conchology. The biological study of gastropods, and other molluscs in general, is malacology. Shell morphology terms vary by species group.
Dicathais is a genus of predatory sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the family Muricidae, the rock snails. This genus is monotypic; the only species in it is Dicathais orbita, common name the white rock shell or cart-rut shell, found round the coasts of Australia and New Zealand.
Conus cocceus, common name the cocceus cone or the scarlet-spotted cone, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Conidae, the cone snails and their allies.
Conus dampierensis is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Conidae, the cone snails and their allies.
Conus dorreensis, common name the pontifical cone, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Conidae, the cone snails and their allies.
Conus klemae, common name the Clem's cone, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Conidae, the cone snails and their allies.
Conasprella rutila, common name the burnished cone, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Conidae, the cone snails and their allies.
Conus nodulosus is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Conidae, the cone snails and their allies.
Ranella australasia is a species of large predatory sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Ranellidae, the triton snails, triton shells or tritons.
Conus advertex is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Conidae, the cone snails, cone shells or cones.
Conus albellus, common name snowy cone snail, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Conidae, the cone snails, cone shells or cones.
Conus queenslandis is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Conidae, the cone snails and their allies.
Conus reductaspiralis, common name Nielsen's cone, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Conidae, the cone snails and their allies.
Conus thevenardensis is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Conidae, the cone snails and their allies.
Prothalotia lehmanni, common name Lehmann's top shell, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Trochidae, the top snails.
Cratidentium balteata, common name the tessellated top shell, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Trochidae, the top snails.
Cratidentium ocellinum, common name the eyelet top shell, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Trochidae, the top snails.
Laetifautor spinulosus, common name the spine top shell, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk, in the family Calliostomatidae within the superfamily Trochoidea, the top snails, turban snails and their allies.
Cratidentium is a genus of small sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Trochidae, the top-snails.
