The TROCHIDAE include all of the shells generally referred to as Top Shells. Among the most beautiful of this family are the Calliostoma with their iridescent sheen and beaded sculpture.

LITERATURE:  
Trochidae
Trochidae

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SELECTED TROCHIDAE LITERATURE
The illustrated Trochidae are from various private, or museum collections.
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TROCHIDAE CLASSIFICATION

Phylum: MOLLUSCA (Linné, 1758) Cuvier, 1795

Class: GASTROPODA Cuvier, 1797

Subclass: PROSOBRANCHIA Milne Edwards, 1848

Superorder: ARCHAEOGASTROPODA Thiele, 1925

Order: VETIGASTROPODA Thiele, 1925

Superfamily: TROCHOIDEA Rafinesque, 1815

Family: TROCHIDAE Rafinesque, 1815

Highlight and click the classification term for a definition and additional information.
REFERENCE: Millard, V.G., 1997. Classification of Mollusca. South Africa.
TROCHIDAE Subfamilies

  • MARGARITINAE
  • PLANITROCHINAE
  • MONODONTINAE
  • CATAEGINAE
  • GIBBULINAE
  • CALLIOSTOMATINAE
  • TROCHINAE
  • UMBONIINAE
  • SOLARIELLINAE
  • HALISTYLINAE




    • REFERENCE: VAUGHT, K. C. 1989. A classification of the living Mollusca.
    American Malacologists Inc., Melbourne, U.S.A. xii + 195pp.
    MARGARITINAE Stoliczka, 1868 back to menu
    Bathybembix bairdii (Dall, 1889) - Oregon, 40mm - dredged in deep water; Ranges from the Bering Sea south to Chile. Shell thin, white, covered with a yellowish-greenish periostracum. Ref.: Abbott, R.T., 1974, American Seashells, p.39, f.263. Calliotropis glyptaCalliotropis glypta (Watson, 1886) - Australia, 25mm - commonly trawled in in 300 to 700 meters of water off New South Wales. Ref.: Jansen, P., Notes on the Australia species of Calliotropis (Gastropoda: Trochidae) with descriptions of four new species, Moll.Res. 15:43-53(1994). Margarites helicinusMargarites helicinus (Phipps, 1774) [+ beringensis (E.A.Smith, 1899)] - Alaska, 7mm - Circumpolar from the Arctic Seas to Alaska and Massachusetts. Commonly found in a range of depths from as little as 1 meter to over 70 meters of water. Ref.: Abbott, R.T., 1974, American Seashells, p.35, f.208.
    Lischkeia cidarisLischkeia cidaris (Carpenter, 1864)) - Alaska, 34-35mm - Similar to Bathybembix bairdii, but cidaris has a more impressed suture and flatter spire whorls. Type of the subgenus Cidarina Dall, 1909. Ref.: Abbott, R.T., 1974, American Seashells, p.39, f.264.    
    PLANITROCHINAE Knight, 1956 back to menu
         
    MONODONTINAE Cossmann, 1916 back to menu
    Monodonta articulataMonodonta articulata (Lamarck, 1822) - Mediterranean Sea, 25mm - Lives in relatively shallow water and intertidally. A variable species with many form names. Ref.: Poppe, G.T.& Yoshihiro, G., European Seashells, Vol.I, (1991) p.85, pl.9, fig.1.     
    CATAEGINAE McLean & Quinn, 1987 back to menu
         
    GIBBULINAE Stoliczka, 1868 back to menu
         
    CALLIOSTOMATINAE Thiele, 1921 back to menu
    Calliostoma aculeatumCalliostoma (Tristichotrochus) aculeatum (Sowerby, 1912) - Japan, 15mm - Endemic to south and central Japan. Similar to C. soyoae, but is larger and lack the umbilicus of C. soyoae. Ref.: Kira, T., Shells of the Western Pacific In Color, Vol.I, (1975) p.11, pl.8, fig.12. Calliostoma annulatum (Lightfoot, 1786) - California, 26-30mm - inhabitants kelp beds. One of the more showy and desirable Calliostoma. Ref.: Abbott, R.T., 1974, American Seashells, p.47, f.355. Calliostoma benedicti Dall, 1889 - Florida; Gulf of Mexico, 20-25mm - trawled in deep water. One of the more uncommon Caribbean Calliostomas. Small specimens were referred to as C. springeri. Ref.: Abbott, R.T., 1974, American Seashells, p.45, f.321.
    Calliostoma brunneumCalliostoma brunneum Dall, 1881 - Colombia, 12mm - This small specimen represents a southward range extension for the species. Typically, but rarely found in the northern Caribbean down to Barbados. C. tejedori Aguayo, 1949 is a synonym. Ref.: Abbott, R.T., 1974, American Seashells, p.46, f.350. Calliostoma canaliculata (Lightfoot, 1786) - California, 23-30mm - another kelp bed inhabitant. Covered with raised spiral cords. The species ranges north to Alaska. Ref.: Abbott, R.T., 1974, American Seashells, p.47, f.356. Calliostoma euglyptumCalliostoma euglyptum (A. Adams, 1855) - Florida, 19mm - Ranges from North Carolina to Mexico, but considered uncommon in Florida. Inhabits intertidal zones down to 30+ fathoms of water. This species has no umbilicus. Ref.: Abbott, R.T., 1974, American Seashells, p.45, f.322.
    Calliostoma fonkiiCalliostoma fonkii (Philippi, 1860) - Chile, 16mm - Known from Peru, Chile and Galapagos. Has three main spiral cords, the upper two are beaded. Ref.: Keen, A.M., 1971, Sea Shells of Tropical West America, p.334, f.79. Calliostoma guesti Quinn, 1992 - Bermuda, 25mm - taken in deep water traps. A rare, endemic species. Calliostoma marionae Dall, 1906 - Florida, 17mm - dredged in deep water. The shell is sculptured with fine encircling incised lines. Ref.: Abbott, R.T., 1974, American Seashells, p.45, f.323.
    Calliostoma militarisCalliostoma militaris Ihering, 1907 - Brazil, 24mm - Ranges from Rio de Janeiro southward to Rio Negro, Argentina. Taken by fishing boats in 30-60 meters of water. The species is quite rare. Ref.: Rios, E.C., 1975, Brazilian Marine Mollusks Iconography, p.24, pl.6 f.65. Calliostoma orionCalliostoma orion Dall, 1889 - Bahamas, 8mm - The holotype was taken off Havana, Cuba. Reaches a size of about 12mm. Ref.: Abbott, R.T., 1974, American Seashells, p.46, f.335 / Clench, W.J. & Turner, R.D., The Genus Calliostoma in the Western Atlantic, Johnsonia, Vol.4 No.40 (1960) p.54 pl.35. Calliostoma ornatum (Lamarck, 1822) - South Africa, 21-22mm - a common reef dweller, taken from intertidal zones down to scuba diving depths. Ref.: Kilburn, R.N., Taxonomic Notes on South African marine Mollusca (3)*:Gastropoda:Prosobranchia, with descriptions of new taxa of Naticidae, Fasciolariidae, Magilidae, Volutomitridae and Turridae, Ann. Natal Mus. Vol.22(1), p.187, f.1 / Kilburn, R. & Rippey, E., (1982) Sea Shells of Southern Africa, p. 39, pl.8, fig.4.
    Calliostoma palmeriCalliostoma palmeri Dall, 1871 - Mexico, 26mm - Limited to Gulf of California southward to Guaymas, Mexico. Lives intertidally down to 40+ meters of water. Note the purple umbilical region. Ref.: Keen, A.M., 1971, Sea Shells of Tropical West America, p.335, f.88 Calliostoma paucicostataCalliostoma paucicostata Kosuge, 1984 - Philippines, 12mm - An uncommon deep water Trochid from the central Philippines characterized by its rows of short spiny encircling the body whorrl. Ref.: Kosuge, S., Studies of the Collection of Mr. Victor Dan (7) Descriptions of New Species of the Genera Calliostoma and Lyria, Bull. Inst. Malac. Tokyo 2(1):3-4 (1984), pl.2 (orig.desc.). Calliostoma platinum Dall, 1889 - California, 28-35mm - pearly greenish-white. Similar to C. titanium, but lacks the shell sculpture. Two beaded cords encirle the shell around the suture and keel. Dredged from deep water. A very rare species. Ref.: Abbott, R.T., 1974, American Seashells, p.48, f.362 / McLean & Gosliner, Taxonomic Atlas of the Benthic Fauna of the Santa Maria Basin and Western Santa Barbara Channel, Vol.9(2) The Gastropoda, 1996, p.34, fig.1.6A.
    Calliostoma rubiginosa australeCalliostoma rubiginosa australe (Broderip, 1835) - Australia, 28mm - Typically taken from South Australia and New South Wales, this illustrated specimen was collected near Broome, North Territory. Calliostoma (Kombologion) scotti Kilburn, 1973 - Mozambique, 35mm - golden color, with beaded sculpture. Trawled in 150-200 meters of water. Ref.: Kilburn, R.N., Notes on some benthic Mollusca from Natal and Mocambique, with descriptions of new species and subspecies of Calliostoma, Solariella, Latiaxis, Babylonia, Fusinus, Bathytoma and Conus, Ann. Natal Mus. Vol.21(3), 1973, p.558, f.1a-c (orig.desc.). Calliostoma (Kombologion) scotti Kilburn, 1973 - South Africa, 37mm - an interesting specimen with a well-defined white zone on the base. This was the only specimen in the lot that exhibited this coloring, though probably not too unusual.
    Calliostoma titanium McLean, 1984 - California, 31-33mm - beautiful pale pearly greenish/white; one of the great rarities from the west coast. This specimen was taken in prawn traps set in deep water. Calliostoma titanium McLean, 1984 - California, 26-27mm - shell sculpture can be variable. A typically beaded specimen with sculptured and an unusual shell with reduced sculpture is illustrated. Calliostoma tricolorCalliostoma tricolor Gabb, 1865 - California, 14.5mm - This species has been recorded from San Francisco southward to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. This specimen was dredged off Redondo Beach in 25 fathoms of water on a gravel bottom by Tom & John Q. Burch in August 1941. Ref.: Abbott, R.T., 1974, American Seashells, p.47, f.352.
    Calliostoma variegatumCalliostoma variegatum Carpenter, 1864 - Alaska, 23mm - Uncommonly found from Alaska to southern California. This specimen was found on rocks in 20-25 meters of water while scuba diving. Ref.: Abbott, R.T., 1974, American Seashells, p.47, f.357. Calliostoma vicdani Kosuge, 1984 - Philippines, 29mm - covered with rows of closely set beads; a small ridge is found inside the base of the aperture close to the columellar. This is an exceptional example of the species. Collected from deepwater tangle nets. Ref.: Kosuge, S., Studies of the Collection of Mr. Victor Dan (7) Descriptions of New Species of the Genera Calliostoma and Lyria, Bull. Inst. Malac. Tokyo 2(1):3-4 (1984), pl.2 (orig.desc.). Calliostoma yucatecanumCalliostoma yucatecanum Dall, 1881 - South Carolina, USA, 11mm - A more northerly species ranging from North Carolina to Mexico. Note the deep, smooth umbilicus, which is characteristic for the species. Ref.: Abbott, R.T., 1974, American Seashells, p.43, f.309.
    Maurea foveauxana Dell, 1950 - New Zealand, 41-47mm - trawled in deep water off the South Island and Stewart Island. Maurea are endemic to New Zealand, and related to the Calliostoma. An uncommon species. Ref.: Powell, A.W.B., 1979, New Zealand Mollusca, Marine, Land and Freshwater Shells, p.63, pl.10, f.7.    
    TROCHINAE Rafinesque, 1815 back to menu
    Clanculus atropurpureus (Gould, 1849) - Kwajalein, 7-8mm - sculpture of beaded cords. The red-tipped spire is characteristic of the species. Ref.: Cernohorsky, W.O., 1987, Tropical Pacific Marine Shells, p.32, Pl.8 f.3. Clanculus clanguloides (Wood, 1828) - Kwajalein, 10-11mm - The third and seventh row of beaded sculpture, with every fourth bead a deep rose color is characteristic of the species. This uncommon species is found in the central and western Pacific. Ref.: Cernohorsky, W.O., 1972, Marine Shells of the Pacific, Vol.II, p.40, Pl.8 f.8. Clanculus jussieui (Payraudeau, 1826) - Italy, 10mm - dark specimens with variegated pattern around umbilical area. The upper whorls are covered with fine spiral lines. Ref.: Rubio, F. & Rolán, E., (2002) Revision of the Genus Clanculus (Gastropoda: Trochidae) in the Eastern Atlantic, Evolver Publications, Roma, pp.40-41, fig.63-75, 135-136, 151-152, 159.
    Tectus conusTectus conus (Gmelin, 1791) - Japan, 41mm - A common Western Pacific species that grows to over 75mm. Specimens tend to become encrusted with coralline encrustations, obscuring the color and pattern. The species lives on rocks in intertidal zones, yet is also found at deeper depths. This specimen was taken in 20-40 fathoms of water off Wakayama Prefecture, Japan. Ref.: Habe, T., 1975, Shells of the Western Pacific in Color Vol. II, p.12, f.27. Trochus hanleyanusTrochus hanleyanus Reeve, 1842 - Australia, 31mm - This species has a Western Pacific distribution, but is more often found around the northern, eastern and western coasts of Australia. It is considered uncommon. The illustrated shell is unusual in that the whorls are somewhat concave, whereas the species typically exhibits slightly more convex whorls. Ref.: Cernohorsky, W.O., 1987, Tropical Pacific Marine Shells, p.32, Pl.6 f.6.  
    UMBONIINAE H. & A. Adams, 1854 back to menu
    Umbonium vestiariumUmbonium vestiarium (Linné, 1758) - Kuwait, 11mm - Two of a seemingly endless number of color-patterns that this species exhibits. Found from the northern Persian Gulf south to Masirah Id., Gulf of Oman. The species lives intertidally in sand. Ref.: Bosch, Dance, Moolenbeek & Oliver, 1995, Seashells of Eastern Arabia, p.36, f.50.    
    SOLARIELLINAE Powell, 1951 back to menu
    Pseudostomatella papyraceaPseudostomatella papyracea (Gmelin, 1791) - Philippines, 34mm - Western Pacific distribution. The large size and arrow-shaped lines on the spiral cords separate it from similar species. This specimen was taken in 25 feet of water off Siasi Id., Sulu Sea. Ref.: Cernohorsky, W.O., 1972, Marine Shells of the Pacific, Vol.II, p.43, Pl.9 f.3.    
    HALISTYLINAE Keen, 1958 back to menu
    Halistylus columnaHalistylus columna (Dall, 1890) - Uruguay, 3mm+ - Small, cylindrical, and very un-trochoid-like shells. H. columna is the type species of the genus. It's found from Brazil to Uruguay, infrequently dredged in 10-40 meters of water. Ref.: Abbott, R.T., 1974, American Seashells, p.52, f.400.