Turbinella is a genus of very large sea snails with an operculum, marine gastropod mollusks in the subfamily Turbinellinae of the family Turbinellidae.[2]

Turbinella
A live individual of Turbinella laevigata
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Caenogastropoda
Order: Neogastropoda
Superfamily: Turbinelloidea
Family: Turbinellidae
Subfamily: Turbinellinae
Genus: Turbinella
Lamarck, 1799[1]
Type species
Voluta pyrum Linnaeus, 1767
Synonyms[2]
  • Buccinella Perry, 1811
  • Turbinellus Lamarck, 1801 (invalid emendation of Turbinella, placed on Official Index by Opinion 489)
  • Xancus Röding, 1798

These species are sometimes known as "chanks" or "chank shells". One species in this genus is the sacred chank, Turbinella pyrum; see "Shankha" for the cultural and religious use of the shell of that species.

Distribution

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Species in this genus are found worldwide, mostly in tropical shallow waters.

Description

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Most species have massive shells with three or four prominent columellar plicae.

The smooth shell is thick and obconic. The body whorl is large. The spire is obtuse. The apex is papillary. The aperture is oblong and narrow. The siphonal canal is long and straight. The columella sgows several strong transverse plaits in the middle. The outer lip is thin and simple.[3]

Species

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Hindu priest blowing a trumpet made out of a large shell of Turbinella pyrum, in Tirupati, India

Species within the genus Turbinella include:

Species brought into synonymy
Species inquirenda
  • Turbinella tuberculata Anton, 1838 (species inquirenda, Invalid: junior homonym of Turbinella tuberculata Broderip, 1833)

References

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