{"id":70595,"date":"2024-09-24T14:07:11","date_gmt":"2024-09-24T11:07:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/azalas.de\/de\/?p=70595"},"modified":"2026-03-01T18:21:02","modified_gmt":"2026-03-01T16:21:02","slug":"hornschnecken-und-turmschnecken","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/azalas.de\/en\/buccinidae-and-turritellidae\/","title":{"rendered":"Gastropoda 4: Buccinidae and Turritellidae"},"content":{"rendered":"

W<\/big>ithin the large superorder Caenogastropoea<\/em> (which comprises nearly all snails), the members of the superfamily Cerithioidea<\/em> are characterised by their oblong shells. At least six species occur around Naxos.<\/p>\n

The Photo gallery of the marine snails<\/strong><\/a> gives an overview over the species.<\/p>\n

A note on identification:<\/strong> Some species usually can be identified easily and reliably. In many cases, however, several related species are difficult to distinguish. Also not all species are included in the field guides; even using the internet, it is difficult to find information on some species. Accordingly, some of the identifications may not be correct.<\/small><\/p>\n

And a word about the names:<\/strong> As with many marine animals, there is a great deal of confusion surrounding the names of snails: for almost all species, a large number of synonyms exist that are no longer valid today but are still used in older books. I use the names according to the World Register of Marine Species<\/a> (as of 2020), where you can also find the corresponding synonyms.<\/small><\/p>\n

Here you can jump directly to the species<\/strong> (return with the back arrow or by swiping back):
\nCerithium<\/a>  –  Bittium<\/a>  –  Turritellinella<\/a><\/p>\n

1. Cerithiidae<\/em><\/a><\/h3>\n
Cerithium vulgatum<\/em>, Brugui\u00e8re<\/h6>\n

very common<\/p>\n

Cerithium vulgatum<\/em> is one of the larger snails in our region; it grows up to 6 cm long. It lives mainly on fine sand and feeds on detritus and diatoms. It is often seen in small ponds at the waterline.<\/p>\n

I<\/big>ts shell is pointed and oblong (“tower-shaped”) with small spirally arranged knots. The aperture shows a small groove at the top and a short, wide siphon canal at the bottom (almond-shaped). Its colouring is light with fine brown spots.<\/p>\n

\"Cerithium
\nCerithium vulgatum<\/em> grows to a length of up to 6 cm. Height: 50 mm<\/small><\/p>\n

\"Cerithium
\nThis also might be Cerithium vulgatum<\/em>, or maybe C. alucastrum<\/em>. Height: 20 mm<\/small><\/p>\n

Cerithium rupestre<\/em>, Risso<\/h6>\n

very common<\/p>\n

T<\/big>his smaller form was earlier considered to be a separate species; now it is often seen as belonging to Cerithium vulgatum<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\"Cerithium
\nThese snails, with smaller shells with larger, smoother knots, are sometimes considered to represent a different species: Cerithium rupestre<\/em>. Height: 15 mm<\/small><\/p>\n

Cerithium lividulum<\/em>, Risso<\/h6>\n

common<\/p>\n

\"Cerithium
\nCerithium lividulum<\/em> has a light grey shell with a fine reticulate sculpture with irregular spiral lines; here too, the almond-shaped mouth shows a groove at the top and bottom. The inner lip is folded back. Height: 20 mm<\/small><\/p>\n

Bittium latreillii<\/em>, Payraudeau<\/a><\/h6>\n

common<\/p>\n

\"Bittium
\nThis very small species has a tall, slender shell with a fine reticulate pattern and characteristic white dashes on the whorls. Height: 12 mm<\/small><\/p>\n

Bittium reticulatum ?<\/em>, da Costa<\/h6>\n

very rare<\/p>\n

\"Bittium
\nThis species is very similar to the previous one, but has a darker, more strongly sculptured shell with fewer white dashes. It could be B. reticulatum<\/em>. Height: 13 mm<\/small><\/p>\n

2. Turritellidae<\/em>, Tower snails<\/a><\/h3>\n

T<\/big>ower snails have very tall, pointed tower-shaped shells. They live buried in the sandy seafloor filtering tiny particles out of the sea water.<\/p>\n

Turritellinella tricarinata<\/em>, Brocchi<\/h6>\n

very rare<\/p>\n

T<\/big>his common and widespread species lives buried in the sediment and feeds by filtering small organisms out of the sea water. It grows to a length of up to 6 cm. It seems to occur only rarely around Naxos; in any case we have hardly ever found a shell.<\/p>\n

\"Turritellinella
\nTurritellinella tricarinata<\/em> has a pointed, tall shell with fine spiral stripes on the whorls. Height: 22 mm<\/small><\/p>\n

To the photo gallery<\/a><\/p>\n

continue: Littorinimorpha<\/a><\/p>\n

back:<\/p>\n