"Zigzag Cowries are beautifully ornamented with waving and broken lines."

Cypraea Zigzag (Linnaeus)

"Zigzag Cowries are beautifully ornamented with waving and broken lines."

"The Money Cowry is a little, oval shell, depressed, flat below, with very thick edges and slightly waving. It comes from the Indian ocean, and is sometimes found in the Atlantic."

Cypraea Moneta (Linnaeus)

"The Money Cowry is a little, oval shell, depressed, flat below, with very thick edges and slightly…

"The Madagascar Cowry [is] beautifully marked, having the general appearance of being mammillated all over."

Cypraea Madagascariensis (Gmel.)

"The Madagascar Cowry [is] beautifully marked, having the general appearance of being mammillated all…

"The Granular Cowry [is] beautifully marked, having the general appearance of being mammillated all over."

Cypraea Nucleus (Linnaeus)

"The Granular Cowry [is] beautifully marked, having the general appearance of being mammillated all…

"The Episcopal Miter, from the Indian ocean is white, ornamented with square spots of a fine red, and capable of high polish. It emits a purple liquid, having a nauseous odor, when irritated."

Mitra Episcopalis (Lamarck)

"The Episcopal Miter, from the Indian ocean is white, ornamented with square spots of a fine red, and…

"The Papal Miter has dentiform folds around the opening, which also crown each turn of the spiral. It emits a purple liquid, having a nauseous odor, when irritated."

Mitra Papalis (Lamarck)

"The Papal Miter has dentiform folds around the opening, which also crown each turn of the spiral. It…

"The genus <em>Oliva</em> is so named from its resemblance in form to the olive. They are flesh-eaters."

Oliva Erythrostoma (Lamarck)

"The genus Oliva is so named from its resemblance in form to the olive. They are flesh-eaters."

"The genus <em>Oliva</em> is so named from its resemblance in form to the olive. They are flesh-eaters."

Oliva Porphyria (Lamarck)

"The genus Oliva is so named from its resemblance in form to the olive. They are flesh-eaters."

"The genus <em>Oliva</em> is so named from its resemblance in form to the olive. They are flesh-eaters."

Oliva Peruviana (Lamarck)

"The genus Oliva is so named from its resemblance in form to the olive. They are flesh-eaters."

"In the genus <em>Cassis</em> the shell is oval, convex, and the spire is not of considerable height. These animals keep near the shore, in shallow water."

Cassis Glauca (Linnaeus)

"In the genus Cassis the shell is oval, convex, and the spire is not of considerable height.…

"In the genus <em>Cassis</em> the shell is oval, convex, and the spire is not of considerable height. These animals keep near the shore, in shallow water."

Cassis Rula (Linnaeus)

"In the genus Cassis the shell is oval, convex, and the spire is not of considerable height.…

"In the genus <em>Cassis</em> the shell is oval, convex, and the spire is not of considerable height. These animals keep near the shore, in shallow water."

Cassis Canaliculata (Brugieres)

"In the genus Cassis the shell is oval, convex, and the spire is not of considerable height.…

"In the genus <em>Cassis</em> the shell is oval, convex, and the spire is not of considerable height. These animals keep near the shore, in shallow water."

Cassis Madagascariensis (Lamarck)

"In the genus Cassis the shell is oval, convex, and the spire is not of considerable height.…

"In the genus <em>Cassis</em> the shell is oval, convex, and the spire is not of considerable height. These animals keep near the shore, in shallow water."

Cassis Madagascariensis (Lamarck)

"In the genus Cassis the shell is oval, convex, and the spire is not of considerable height.…

"In the genus <em>Cassis</em> the shell is oval, convex, and the spire is not of considerable height. These animals keep near the shore, in shallow water."

Cassis Zebra (Lamarck)

"In the genus Cassis the shell is oval, convex, and the spire is not of considerable height.…

"The Purpuras have a classical name and history, having furnished the Greeks and Romans with the brilliant purple coloring matter which was reserved for the mantles of patricians and princes."

Purpura Consul.

"The Purpuras have a classical name and history, having furnished the Greeks and Romans with the brilliant…

"The Purpuras have a classical name and history, having furnished the Greeks and Romans with the brilliant purple coloring matter which was reserved for the mantles of patricians and princes."

Buccinum Senticosum (Linnaeus)

"The Purpuras have a classical name and history, having furnished the Greeks and Romans with the brilliant…

"The Volutes live in the sands near the shore; sometimes they are found high and dry, left by the retreating tide."

Voluta Undulata (Lamarck)

"The Volutes live in the sands near the shore; sometimes they are found high and dry, left by the retreating…

"The Volutes live in the sands near the shore; sometimes they are found high and dry, left by the retreating tide."

Voluta Cymbium (Linnaeus)

"The Volutes live in the sands near the shore; sometimes they are found high and dry, left by the retreating…

"The Volutes live in the sands near the shore; sometimes they are found high and dry, left by the retreating tide."

Voluta Delessertii (Petit)

"The Volutes live in the sands near the shore; sometimes they are found high and dry, left by the retreating…

"The Volutes live in the sands near the shore; sometimes they are found high and dry, left by the retreating tide."

Voluta Musica (Linn.)

"The Volutes live in the sands near the shore; sometimes they are found high and dry, left by the retreating…

"The Volutes live in the sands near the shore; sometimes they are found high and dry, left by the retreating tide."

Voluta Imperialis (Lamarck)

"The Volutes live in the sands near the shore; sometimes they are found high and dry, left by the retreating…

"The Volutes live in the sands near the shore; sometimes they are found high and dry, left by the retreating tide."

Voluta Scapha (Gmel.)

"The Volutes live in the sands near the shore; sometimes they are found high and dry, left by the retreating…

"The Volutes live in the sands near the shore; sometimes they are found high and dry, left by the retreating tide."

Voluta Vexillum (Chem.)

"The Volutes live in the sands near the shore; sometimes they are found high and dry, left by the retreating…

"The genus <em>Conus</em> is especially rich in species, as well as numerous individuals. This group presents a remarkable uniformity of shape."

Conus Tescallatus (Born.)

"The genus Conus is especially rich in species, as well as numerous individuals. This group…

"The genus <em>Conus</em> is especially rich in species, as well as numerous individuals. This group presents a remarkable uniformity of shape."

Conus Nobilis (Linn.)

"The genus Conus is especially rich in species, as well as numerous individuals. This group…

"The genus <em>Conus</em> is especially rich in species, as well as numerous individuals. This group presents a remarkable uniformity of shape."

Conus Gloria Maris (Chemn.)

"The genus Conus is especially rich in species, as well as numerous individuals. This group…

"The genus <em>Conus</em> is especially rich in species, as well as numerous individuals. This group presents a remarkable uniformity of shape."

Conus Textilis (Linn.)

"The genus Conus is especially rich in species, as well as numerous individuals. This group…

"The genus <em>Triton</em> is classed next to the genus <em>Murex</em>. The shell is irregularly covered with swelling excrescences, scattered all over the surface."

Triton Anus (Lamarck)

"The genus Triton is classed next to the genus Murex. The shell is irregularly covered…

A remarkable species of the genus <em>Fusus</em>.

Fusus Proboscidiferus

A remarkable species of the genus Fusus.

A remarkable species of the genus <em>Fusus</em>.

Fusus Pagodus

A remarkable species of the genus Fusus.

A remarkable species of the genus <em>Fusus</em>.

Fusus Colus

A remarkable species of the genus Fusus.

"The <em>Strombus</em> is a peculiar genus, belonging to the equatorial seas. Some of these attain great size."

Strombus Gigas (Linnaeus), with the animal

"The Strombus is a peculiar genus, belonging to the equatorial seas. Some of these attain great…

"The <em>Strombus</em> is a peculiar genus, belonging to the equatorial seas. Some of these attain great size."

Shell of Strombus Gigas

"The Strombus is a peculiar genus, belonging to the equatorial seas. Some of these attain great…

"The Angel-winged is shown [here]. It is veined with stripes of white and red, and comes from the coasts of Asia and America."

Strombus Gallus (Linn.)

"The Angel-winged is shown [here]. It is veined with stripes of white and red, and comes from the coasts…

This species is known as the Sea-spiders or Scorpion-shells.

Pteroceras Scorpio (Linnaeus)

This species is known as the Sea-spiders or Scorpion-shells.

This species is known as the Sea-spiders or Scorpion-shells.

Pteroceras Millepeda (Linnaeus)

This species is known as the Sea-spiders or Scorpion-shells.

This species is known as the Sea-spiders or Scorpion-shells.

Pteroceras Chiragra (Linnaeus)

This species is known as the Sea-spiders or Scorpion-shells.

This species is known as the Sea-spiders or Scorpion-shells.

Pteroceras Lambis (Linnaeus)

This species is known as the Sea-spiders or Scorpion-shells.

The wentletrap is a small, white, spiraled gastropod mollusk.

Wentletrap

The wentletrap is a small, white, spiraled gastropod mollusk.

The common whelk (Buccinum undatum) is a large edible sea snail and a gastropod mollusk.

Common Whelk

The common whelk (Buccinum undatum) is a large edible sea snail and a gastropod mollusk.

Murex is a genus of predatory gastropod mollusks.

Murex

Murex is a genus of predatory gastropod mollusks.

An illustration of hermit craps shedding their shells and finding new ones. As hermit crabs grow they require larger shells. Since suitable intact gastropod shells are a limited resource, there is frequently strong competition among hermit crabs for the best available shells. The availability of empty snail shells at any given place depends primarily on the relative abundance of gastropods in the right range of sizes, compared to the demographics of the population of hermit crabs.

Hermit Crabs

An illustration of hermit craps shedding their shells and finding new ones. As hermit crabs grow they…

The wentletrap (Scalaria pretiosa) is gastropod mollusk named after its spiral staircase appearance.

Wentletrap

The wentletrap (Scalaria pretiosa) is gastropod mollusk named after its spiral staircase appearance.

The wentletrap (Scalaria pretiosa) is gastropod mollusk named after its spiral staircase appearance.

Wentletrap

The wentletrap (Scalaria pretiosa) is gastropod mollusk named after its spiral staircase appearance.

Circulatory and nervous system of a snail. Labels: F, tentacles; Oe, esophagus; Cg, cerebral ganglion; Pg, pedal ganglion and otocyst; Vg, visceral ganglion; Phg, pharyngeal ganglion; A, abdominal aorta; Ac, cephalic aorta; V, veins; V c, brachial veins; Br, gills.

Circulatory and Nervous System of a Snail

Circulatory and nervous system of a snail. Labels: F, tentacles; Oe, esophagus; Cg, cerebral ganglion;…

Scissurella crispata is a species of small sea snails in the Scissurellidae family.

Scissurella

Scissurella crispata is a species of small sea snails in the Scissurellidae family.

The scorpion shell (Pteroceras lambis) is a large sea snail in the Strombidae family of conchs.

Scorpion Conch

The scorpion shell (Pteroceras lambis) is a large sea snail in the Strombidae family of conchs.

The Green Ormer (Haliotis tuberculata) is an edible mollusk considered a delicacy.

Green Ormer

The Green Ormer (Haliotis tuberculata) is an edible mollusk considered a delicacy.

The common periwinkle (Littorina littorea) is an edible species of sea snail in the Littorinidae family of the winkles.

Common Periwinkle

The common periwinkle (Littorina littorea) is an edible species of sea snail in the Littorinidae family…

The violet snail is a floating sea slug. The snail is able to float due to the mucus covered raft that it produces.

Violet Snail

The violet snail is a floating sea slug. The snail is able to float due to the mucus covered raft that…

Naticina papilla is a species of naticoid, a predatory sea snail in the gastropod class of Mollusca.

Naticoid

Naticina papilla is a species of naticoid, a predatory sea snail in the gastropod class of Mollusca.

Naticina haliotoides is a species of naticoid, a predatory sea snail in the gastropod class of Mollusca.

Naticoid

Naticina haliotoides is a species of naticoid, a predatory sea snail in the gastropod class of Mollusca.

The shell of a Slit Worm Snail (Siliquaria anguina). The species is a gastropod mollusc that has an eloongated shell with a narrow slit down its length.

Slit Worm Snail

The shell of a Slit Worm Snail (Siliquaria anguina). The species is a gastropod mollusc that has an…

Hermit crabs are decapod crustaceans of the superfamily Paguroidea. They are not closely related to true crabs. Hermit crabs are quite commonly seen in the intertidal zone, for example in tide pools. Most species of hermit crabs have long soft abdomens which are protected from predators by the adaptation of carrying around a salvaged empty seashell, into which the whole crab's body can retract. Most frequently hermit crabs utilize the shells of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks. The tip of the hermit crab's abdomen is adapted to clasp strongly onto the columella of the snail shell. As the hermit crab grows in size, it has to find a larger shell and abandon the previous one.

Hermit Crab

Hermit crabs are decapod crustaceans of the superfamily Paguroidea. They are not closely related to…

A series of Stylommatophorous Pulmonata, showing transitional forms between snail and slug.

Snail and Slug

A series of Stylommatophorous Pulmonata, showing transitional forms between snail and slug.

The Snail Shell was commonly used during the Renaissance as a drinking vessel.

Snail Shell

The Snail Shell was commonly used during the Renaissance as a drinking vessel.

<em>Lunatia heros</em> or the Northern moon snail, the common salt-water snail of the Atlantic coast.

Northern Moon Snail

Lunatia heros or the Northern moon snail, the common salt-water snail of the Atlantic coast.

A characteristic snail of freshwater ponds. Female on left, male on right.

Paludina Decisa

A characteristic snail of freshwater ponds. Female on left, male on right.

A common pond and river snail. Side and bottom views.

Planorbis Trivolvis

A common pond and river snail. Side and bottom views.