Shell · Genus
Turbo
Turban shells
Turbo are thick, turban-shaped snails with a heavy calcareous operculum; the green turban Turbo marmoratus is the source of 'green snail' nacre for buttons and inlay, and the 'cat's eye' opercula of Turbo petholatus are sold as jewellery. Polished turban shells reveal iridescent nacre. They are cheap and common in tourist shell shops.
| Habitat | Reefs and rocky shores, tropical and warm temperate |
|---|---|
| Regions | Indo-Pacific, Caribbean, Mediterranean |
| Family | Turbinidae |
| Authority (WoRMS) | Linnaeus, 1758· WoRMS / MolluscaBase |
| Status (WoRMS) | accepted· WoRMS / MolluscaBase |
| Classification (WoRMS) | Animalia › Mollusca › Gastropoda › Trochida › Turbinidae· WoRMS / MolluscaBase |
CITES and protection
Not CITES-listed. Turbo marmoratus, the green turban, is harvested commercially for its nacre and is regulated in several Pacific nations.
Care (Byne's disease)
Turban shells and their calcareous opercula ('cat's eyes') are stable but should be stored dry.
Elsewhere
- WoRMS AphiaID: 151576
- Wikidata: Q1138513
- WoRMS / MolluscaBase record
- Wikipedia: Turbo
- CITES Appendices
Cite this article
Stratum Study. "Turbo" (Shell family). Stratum Study pack 2026.09, as of 2026-09-19. https://stratum.black/study/shells/turbo. Accessed 2026-09-20.
@misc{stratum-turbo,
title = {Turbo},
author = {{Stratum Study}},
howpublished = {\url{https://stratum.black/study/shells/turbo}},
year = {2026},
note = {Shell family article, Stratum Study pack 2026.09, as of 2026-09-19; sources: stratum, worms, wikidata, commons. Accessed 2026-09-20.}
} Citations carry the pack version and the article's as-of date so they resolve to the same text later. The facts themselves belong to the sources listed below; cite those for the science.