Turbo Shells Are Great for Hermit Crabs Average Shell Opening is 1 to 1 1/2 inch

Turbo is a genus of large sea snails with gills and an operculum, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Turbinidae, the turban snails.

The shells of species in this genus are generally highly coiled and thick, with the initial whorls being bicarinate and the last whorl being large, often adorned with robust spiral sculptures, knobs, or spines. The base is convex and may or may not have an umbilicus. These species feature a round aperture and a sturdy, dome-shaped calcareous operculum. The operculum starts as a multispiral disc similar to that of a Trochus, on which a thin calcareous layer is deposited by a lobe of the foot that partially covers it. This design results in an operculum that displays all the underlying whorls, yet the spiral is only weakly visible or not apparent above due to the widespread distribution of the calcareous substance.

The radula is typically broad and short. It always includes median, lateral, and marginal teeth. The central teeth lack cusps. The median tooth features a narrow, oblong, quadrate basal plate, often accompanied by accessory plates of different shapes, to which the tooth's oval body is attached—a simple, cuspless plate with supporting wings on the sides. The central teeth in this group are often asymmetrical. The lateral teeth, which have supporting wings at their outer edges, vary in shape and may or may not have cusps. The inner marginal teeth are notably large and possess prominent cusps.

The Caribbean hermit crab, Coenobita clypeatus, commonly referred to as the "purple pincher" in the pet trade, often prefers Turbo shells when kept as a domestic pet.

The vibrantly colored operculum from at least two distinct Turbo species is utilized for a variety of decorative applications, such as in jewelry and buttons. These opercula are occasionally referred to as "cat's eyes."

Scientific classification

Domain: Eukaryota

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Mollusca

Class: Gastropoda

Subclass: Vetigastropoda

Order: Trochida

Superfamily: Trochoidea

Family: Turbinidae

Genus: Turbo

Linnaeus, 1758

(REF: Linnaeus C. (1758). Systema Naturae, ed. 10, 761; 1767, ed. 12, 1232.)(REF: Bouchet, P.; Rosenberg, G. (2012). Turbo Linnaeus, 1758. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species)(REF: G.W. Tryon (1888), Manual of Conchology X; Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia)(REF: Alf A., Kreipl K. & Poppe G. T. (2003) The Family Turbinidae, Subfamily Turbininae, Genus Turbo. In: Poppe G. T. & Groh K. (eds.): A Conchological Iconography:)

BANDED JADE TURBO

Highly polished with bands polished to the nacre or mother of pearl

These shells are part of the gastropod family; the animal or mollusk living inside creates a single, top-shaped shell. Some shells are smooth, while others are elaborately adorned with spines or flutings. The aperture has a pearly appearance.

Most of them are located in warm tropical seas, close to coral reefs. The Jade Turbo is found from the Indian Ocean eastward to the northern coasts of Australia.

H1-2-26

A Banded Jade Turbo shell measuring 3 to 4 inches, shell opening is approximately 1 3/4 inches......$10

31-26

A Banded Jade Turbo shell measuring at least 4 inches, shell opening is approximately 1 3/4 inches......$12.95

JADE TURBAN SHELLS

H1-36

A polished Indo-Pacific Jade Turbo shell measuring 2 1/2 to 3 inches, shell opening is about 1 3/4 inches......$5.60

H2-3-36

A polished Indo-Pacific Jade Turbo shell measuring 3 to 4 inches, shell opening is about 1 3/4 inches......$9.45

PEARL JADE TURBO SHELLS

These shells have been polished to the inner shell nacre or mother of pearl.

S1-37

A Poilished Indo-Pacific Pearl Jade Turbo measuring 2 1/2 to 3 inches, shell opening is about 1 to 2 inches.....OUT OF STOCK

S2&3-37

A polished Indo-Pacific Pearl Jade Turbo measuring 3 to 4 inches, shell opening about 1 1/2 inches...... $11.25

S4-37

A polished Indo-Pacific Pearl Jade Turbo measuring at least 4 inches, shell opening about 1 1/2 inches...... $12.25

GOLD TURBO POLISHED SHELL

These gastropod shells have been polished to the inner shell nacre or mother of pearl.

L1-15

A polished Indo-Pacific Gold Turbo shell measuring 2 to 2 1/2 inches, the shell opening is about 1 inch...... .79

SILVER BAND GREEN TURBO SHELLS

These Gastropods shells have been polished to the inner shell nacre or mother of pearl.

K1-15

A polsihed Indo-Pacific Silver Band Polished Green Turbo shell measuring at least 2 inches, shell opening is about 1 inch...... .99

K2-15

A polished Indo-Pacific Silver Band Green Turbo shell 1 to 1 3/4 inches, shell opening is about 1 inch...... OUT OF STOCK

POLISHED SILVER TURBO SHELLS

These gastropods shells have been polished to the inner shell nacre or mother of pearl.

J2-15

A polished Indo-Pacific Silver Turbo shell measuring 1 to 1 1/2 inches, shell opening is about 1 inch...... OUT OF STOCK

J3-15

A polished Indo-Pacific Silver Turbo shell measuring 1 1/2 to 2 inches, shell opening is about 3/4 inch ...... .70

J1-15

One Polished Indo-Pacific Silver Turbo Shell measuring 2 to 2 1/2 inches..... .99

RIBBED PICA TURBO SHELL

Most are found in warm tropical seas, near coral. The Ribbed Pica Turbo ranges from the Indian Ocean east to the Northern shores of Australia.

PPO-17

A polished Ribbed Pica Turban Shell measuring 2 to 3 inches, shell opening is about 1 inch....... $2.80

SPOTTED TURBO SHELL

Turbo shells belong to the gastropod family of shells (animal/mollusk) living inside the shell creates a single shell. These shells are top shaped. Some shells are smooth, others highly ornamented with spines or flutings. The aperture is pearly.

Most are found in warm tropical seas, near coral. The Spotted Polished Turbo shell ranges from the Indian Ocean east to the Northern shores of Australia.

02-3-15

A polished Indo-Pacific Spotted Turbo Shell measuring 1 to 2 inches, shell opening is about 1 inch...... $1.29

BANDED GOLD MOUTH TURBO

Turbo shells belong to the gastropod family of shells (animal/mollusk) living inside the shell creates a single shell. These shells are top shaped. Some shells are smooth, others highly ornamented with spines or flutings. This shell has been polished in such a way that spiraling bands of polished silver wrap around the shell. The aperture is pearly.

Most are found in warm tropical seas, near coral. The Gold Mouth Turbo shell ranges from the Indian Ocean east to the Northern shores of Australia.

KK1-15

A polished Banded Gold Mouth Turbo shell, adorned with spiraling silver stripes, measures approximately 2 inches in diameter, with an opening of about 1 inch...... .89

GOLD MOUTH TURBAN SHELLS

Turbo shells are part of the gastropod family, with the animal or mollusk inside, producing a single shell. These shells are typically top-shaped, with some being smooth and others adorned with spines or flutings. Their unique color patterns make them appealing to collectors, and they feature a pearly aperture.

Most of them are located in the warm tropical seas near coral reefs. The Gold Mouth Turbo shell is found from the Indian Ocean eastward to the northern coasts of Australia.

NN1-9

A Gold Mouth Turbo Shell measurling 1 3/4 to 2 inches, shell opening is about 1 inch...... .29

STRAWBERRY TOP TURBAN SHELLS

Turbo shells are part of the gastropod family, with each mollusk creating a single, top-shaped shell. Some of these shells are smooth, while others are elaborately adorned with spines or flutings. Their distinctive color patterns make them appealing to collectors, and the aperture of the shell is often iridescent.

Most of them inhabit warm tropical seas, close to coral reefs. The Strawberry Top Turbo shell is distributed from the Indian Ocean eastward to the northern coasts of Australia.

W1-11

A Strawberry Top Turban Shell with an approximate measurement of 1/2 inch and a shell opening of less than 1/2 inch....... .39

TURBO PETHOLATUS SHELL

The Turbo Pentholatus shell is commonly known as the Tapestry Turban shell, these are thick, heavy shells with a glossy and smooth surface. The lip of the shell is typically yellow, while the color and patterns vary from one shell to another. The Turbo Petholatus usually features a dark brown hue with darker bands, and is blotched and striped with white. Alternatively, some shells may be a greenish-yellow and lack any pattern. The exterior of the operculum is often a bluish-green at the center, referred to as the "cat's eye."

he Turbo petholatus, commonly known as the tapestry turban, is found from the Eastern Indian Ocean to the northern coast of Australia. This species favors tropical seas and tends to inhabit shallow reefs.

T1-9

A Tapestry Turban or Turbo Petholatus shell measuring 3/4 to 1.5 inches opening is about 1")......OUT OF STOCK

Banded Pentholatus Shell

Pentholatus shells are native to Indo-Pacific region, which runs from the East African coast east to the northern shores of Australia/New Zealand. These shells are mostly found in shallow water near reefs. They are popular as hermit crab shells.

OB4-15

A Banded Polished Pentholatus Turban shell, approximately 2 inches in size with a shell opening of about 1 inch........ .99

OB5-15

A Banded polished Pentholatus shell measuring at least 2 inches, shell opening is about 1 inch....... $1.19

LIGHT GREEN TURBAN SHELLS

Turban shells are part of the gastropod family, with the animal or mollusk inside creating a single, distinctive shell. These shells are typically top-shaped and can vary in texture; some are smooth while others are elaborately adorned with spines or flutings. The aperture of these shells often has a pearly appearance.

Most are located in the warm tropical seas, close to coral reefs. The Light Green Turbo is found from the Indian Ocean eastward to the northern coasts of Australia.

D2-9

A Light Green Turbo shell measuring 1 to 1.5 inches, shell opening is about 3/4 inch...... .14

GROOVED TURBAN SHELLS

S1-3

An Indo-Pacific Grooved Turban shell measuring up to 3/4 inch, shell opening is under 1/2 inch...... .05