Beachcombers Field Guide - Department Of Fisheries Western ...

Turban snail
Mollusca – Gastropoda
Turban snails are
found living in rock pools and
on shallow reefs along the Western
Australian coastline. As a protection from
predators, the turban’s body can be pulled
inside the shell and its aperture closed by
a shelly trap door called the operculum.
After the turban’s death, these trap doors
may be found washed up onto the beach
– in the tropics some very
colourful ones are
called cat’s eyes.
Photo: Sam Bridgwood
Did you know?
You may notice scars on
the outside surfaces of some
turban shells. These are made
by horse shoe limpets that
attach themselves to the shell to
feed on the turban’s mucus and
body wastes.