Turbo marmoratus

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Turbo marmoratus
Turbo marmoratus light 2.jpg
Two views of a shell of Turbo marmoratus.
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Mollusca
Class:
Gastropoda
(unranked):
clade Vetigastropoda
Superfamily:
Trochoidea
Family:
Turbinidae
Subfamily:
Turbininae
Genus:
Turbo
Species:
T. marmoratus
Binomial name
Turbo marmoratus
Linnaeus, 1758
Synonyms [1]
  • Turbo cochlusGmelin, 1791
  • Turbo oleariusLinnaeus, 1758
  • Turbo regenfussiDeshayes, G.P., 1843
  • Turbo undulataRöding, 1798
  • Turbo (Lunatica) marmoratusLinnaeus, 1758

Turbo marmoratus, known as the green turban, the marbled turban or great green turban, is a large species of marine gastropod with a thick calcareous operculum in the family Turbinidae, the turban snails. [1]

Contents

The shells of these large sea snails have a very thick layer of nacre; this species has been commercially fished as a source of mother of pearl.

Distribution

These large snails live in tropical reefs in the Indian Ocean (off Tanzania, Madagascar, Aldabra and the Mascarene Basin) and tropical western Pacific oceans; also off Queensland, Australia. They are nocturnal and feed on algae. [2] Specimens were found among oysters in Samish Bay, Washington in 1924, though it does not appear to have become established there. It was also deliberately introduced to Samoa and Tonga in the 1990's - but it is unclear if these populations became self-sustaining - and French Polynesia, where it provides an important fishery for food and shell products. [3]

Description

The distinctive shell grows to a length of 18 cm. The large, imperforate, solid shell is ventricose, as broad as long. Its color pattern is green, marbled with white and rich brown. The 6-7 whorls are flattened or concave above, rounded and bearing two nodose keels below, and a stronger nodose carina above. It bears blunt tubercles, especially strong on the shoulders. Its large, circular aperture has a golden, pearly shine. The base of the shell is produced. The columellar region is more or less excavated.

The subcircular operculum is somewhat concave within. Its outer surface is closely tuberculate and whitish. [4]

Turbo marmoratus is the host of the ectoparasitic copepod Anthessius isamusi Uyeno & Nagasawa, 2012

Uses

The shell of marbled turbans is used as a source of nacre. The large opercula of Turbo marmoratus have been sold as paperweights or door stops. [5] Green turbans are also popular as food. [3]

Related Research Articles

<i>Astralium rhodostomum</i> Species of gastropod

Astralium rhodostomum, common name the rosemouth star shell, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Turbinidae, the turban snails.

<i>Lunella smaragda</i> Species of gastropod

Lunella smaragda, common name the cat's eye snail, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Turbinidae, the turban snails.

<i>Prisogaster niger</i> Species of gastropod

Prisogaster niger is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Turbinidae, the turban snails.

<i>Turbo imperialis</i> Species of gastropod

Turbo imperialis is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Turbinidae, the turban snails.

<i>Turbo radiatus</i> Species of gastropod

Turbo radiatus is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Turbinidae, the turban snails.

<i>Turbo cornutus</i> Species of gastropod

Turbo cornutus, common name the horned turban, is a species of sea snail, marine gastropod mollusk in the family Turbinidae.

<i>Turbo fluctuosus</i> Species of gastropod

Turbo fluctuosus, common name the wavy turban, is a species of sea snail, marine gastropod mollusk in the family Turbinidae.

<i>Turbo saxosus</i> Species of gastropod

Turbo saxosus, common name the stony turban, is a species of sea snail, marine gastropod mollusk in the family Turbinidae.

<i>Turbo militaris</i> Species of gastropod

Turbo militaris, common name the military turban, is a species of sea snail, marine gastropod mollusk in the family Turbinidae.

<i>Turbo bruneus</i> Species of gastropod

Turbo bruneus, common name the brown (Pacific) dwarf turban or the little burnt turbo, is a species of sea snail, marine gastropod mollusk in the family Turbinidae. These snails are called "turbo" because they can move quite quickly for a snail, using a muscular foot to glide along the ocean floor. They feed on algae and other small organisms that they scrape off rocks and other surfaces.

<i>Turbo chrysostomus</i> Species of gastropod

Turbo chrysostomus, common name the gold-mouth turban, is a species of sea snail, marine gastropod mollusk in the family Turbinidae.

<i>Turbo intercostalis</i> Species of gastropod

Turbo intercostalis, common name the ribbed turban, is a species of sea snail, marine gastropod mollusk in the family Turbinidae.

<i>Turbo setosus</i> Species of gastropod

Turbo setosus, common name the rough turban, is a species of sea snail, marine gastropod mollusk in the family Turbinidae.

<i>Turbo laminiferus</i> Species of gastropod

Turbo laminiferus, common name the crinkly turban, is a species of sea snail, marine gastropod mollusk in the family Turbinidae.

<i>Turbo cidaris</i> Species of gastropod

Turbo cidaris, common name the crown turban, is a species of sea snail, marine gastropod mollusk in the family Turbinidae.

<i>Turbo sarmaticus</i> Species of gastropod

Turbo sarmaticus, common names South African turban, giant turban, ollycrock, or alikreukel, is a species of sea snail, marine gastropod mollusk in the family Turbinidae.

<i>Uvanilla olivacea</i> Species of gastropod

Uvanilla olivacea, common name the blood-spotted star shell, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Turbinidae, the turban snails.

<i>Turbo crassus</i> Species of gastropod

Turbo crassus, common name the crass turban, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Turbinidae, the turban snails.

<i>Turbo lajonkairii</i> Species of gastropod

Turbo lajonkairii, common name the Lajonkairi's turban, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Turbinidae, the turban snails.

<i>Turbo sandwicensis</i> Species of gastropod

Turbo sandwicensis, common name the Hawaiian top shell, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Turbinidae, the turban snails.

References

  1. 1 2 WoRMS (2012). Turbo marmoratus Linnaeus, 1758. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=216369 on 2012-10-01
  2. ↑ "Natural History Museum". Natural History Museum. Archived from the original on 2012-10-15.
  3. 1 2 "Turbo marmoratus". invasions.si.edu. Retrieved 2024-05-11.
  4. ↑ G.W. Tryon (1888), Manual of Conchology X; Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia
  5. ↑ Man and mollusc
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