Strombidae, commonly known as the true conchs, is a taxonomic family of medium-sized to very large sea snails in the superfamily Stromboidea, and the Epifamily Neostromboidae. The term true conchs, being a common name, does not have an exact meaning. It may refer generally to any of the Strombidae but sometimes is used more specifically to include only Strombus and Lambis. The family currently includes 26 extant, and 10 extinct genera.
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 the shell is reduced such that the body cannot be retracted within (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.
Ficidae, common name the fig shells are a family of medium to large marine gastropods. It is the only family in the superfamily Ficoidea.
Tessarolax is an extinct genus of fossil sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Aporrhaidae. The fossil shells of these snails are found in Cretaceous to Paleocene deposits in Europe, North America, and Madagascar.
Liniaxis is a genus of medium-sized sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the subfamily Coralliophilinae, the coral snails, within the family Muricidae, the murex snails and rock snails.
Strombus pugilis, common names the fighting conch and the West Indian fighting conch, is a species of medium to large sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Strombidae, the true conchs.
Cuphosolenus is a genus of extinct small to medium-sized sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Aporrhaidae and the superfamily Stromboidea, known from the Jurassic and lower Cretaceous periods. Cuphosolenus was named by Edouard Piette in 1876.
Brachycythara brevis is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Mangeliidae.
Gymnobela homoeotata is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Raphitomidae.
Mangelia costata is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Mangeliidae.
Paracomitas augusta is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Pseudomelatomidae, the turrids and allies.
Spirotropis aganactica is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Drilliidae.
Tibia insulaechorab, common name the Arabian tibia, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Rostellariidae. It is native to the Red Sea and the Horn of Africa.
Stellaria testigera, common name finger carrier shell, is a species of large sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Xenophoridae, the carrier shells.
Xenophora crispa, the Mediterranean Carrier Shell, is a species of large sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Xenophoridae, the carrier shells.
Galeodea echinophora, the spiny bonnet or helmet shell, is a species of large sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Cassidae, the helmet snails and bonnet snails.
Persististrombus is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Strombidae, the true conchs.
Harpagodes is an extinct genus of fossil sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Harpagodidae.
Persististrombus radix is an extinct species of fossil sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Strombidae, the conchs.
Harmatia is an extinct genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks, in the subfamily Muricinae, the murex snails or rock snails.
