| Turbinidae | |
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| Three views of a shell of Turbo sazae with the operculum in place | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Subclass: | Vetigastropoda |
| Order: | Trochida |
| Superfamily: | Trochoidea |
| Family: | Turbinidae Rafinesque, 1815 |
| Genera and species | |
See text | |
Turbinidae, the turban snails, are a family of small to large marine gastropod molluscs in the superfamily Trochoidea. [1]
Turbinidae have a strong, thick calcareous operculum readily distinguishing them from the somewhat similar Trochidae or top snails, which have a corneous operculum. This strong operculum serves as a passive defensive structure against predators that try to enter by way of the aperture or that would break the shell at the outer lip. These operculum are rounded ovals that are flat with a swirl design on one side and domed on the other. They are known as Pacific cat's eye or Shiva eye shells or mermaid money, and are used for decorative purposes.
The common name turban snail presumably refers to the shell's similarity in appearance to a turban. However, the scientific name Turbinidae is based on the genus name Turbo , which is Latin for spinning top , a child's toy. The word turbine has a similar derivation.
Previously[ when? ] they were classified in the subclass Prosobranchia, in the order Archaeogastropoda in the superfamily Trochacea. Trochaecea is now a synonym for the superfamily Trochoidea. However, this is a quite ancient group of gastropods, probably originating in the Permian period 298 to 250 million years ago. [2] They have typical primitive characters like the nacreous interior of the shell.
Turbinidae belongs to superfamily Turbinoidea according to the taxonomy of the Gastropoda by Bouchet & Rocroi, 2005).
This family consists of eight following subfamilies (according to the taxonomy of the Gastropoda by Bouchet & Rocroi, 2005):
Turbinidae was redefined and moved to the redefined superfamily Trochoidea according to Williams et al. (2008): [4] Angariidae was elevated to family level, Colloniinae was elevated to family Colloniidae within Phasianelloidea, [4] Margaritinae was moved to Turbinidae from Trochidae. [4]
This family consists of five following subfamilies according to Williams et al. (2008): [4]
The following subfamilies (sensu Bouchet & Rocroi (2005) classification of subfamilies in Turbinidae) were kept in Turbinidae:
Turbinids occur in shallow and deep waters. The family has a large distribution, from the tropics to the polar regions, but most of the species live in tropical and subtropical shallow waters. Over the last 50 years a noticeable decline in both size and quantity of turban snail population has been observed by Ama divers of several regions of Japan. [6]
Genera in the family Turbinidae include:
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