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ANIMAL SPECIES:Turban Snail

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Called a Turban Snail because of the pattern and shape of its shell, this medium- to large-sized snail feeds on algae on rock platforms.

Size range

5 cm

Distribution

Turban Snails are found in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania

Habitat

Turban snails live on intertidal rock platforms to a depth of 10 metres.

Behaviour and adaptations

Other behaviours and adaptations

If you lift a Turban Snail from its position on the rock, the animal will retreat inside its shell and close the 'door' or operculum. The operculum is a hard protective covering that grows with the snail. When the snail dies, these round white 'shells' with brown whorls on the underside are often found washed up on beaches and used for jewellry.

Classification

Species:
undulata
Genus:
Turbo
Family:
Turbinidae
Class:
Gastropoda
Phylum:
Mollusca
Kingdom:
Animalia

What does this mean?


Last Updated: 5 January 2010

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