Turbo (gastropod)

Turbo
Dorsal view of a shell of Turbo marmoratus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Gastropoda
(unranked):	clade Vetigastropoda
Superfamily:	Trochoidea
Family:	Turbinidae
Subfamily:	Turbininae
Genus:	Turbo Linnaeus, 1758[1]
Type species
Turbo petholatus Linnaeus, 1758
Species
See text.
Synonyms[2]
Lunatica Röding, 1798 Turbo (Aspilaturbo) S.T. Williams, 2008 Turbo (Batillus) Schumacher, 1817 Turbo (Callopoma) Gray, 1850 Turbo (Carswellena) Iredale, 1931 Turbo (Chaenoturbo) McLean, 1970 Turbo (Emilioturbo) Ortea & Espinosa, 1996 Turbo (Halopsephus) Rehder, 1943 Turbo (Lunatica) Röding, 1798 Turbo (Marmarostoma) Swainson, 1829 Turbo (Modelia) Gray, 1850 Turbo (Sarmaticus) Gray, 1847 Turbo (Senectus) Swainson, 1840 Turbo (Turbo) Linnaeus, 1758

Turbo is a genus of large sea snails with gills and an operculum, marine gastropod molluscs in the family Turbinidae, the turban snails.^[2]

Turbo is the type genus of the family.

Description

The shells are more or less highly conspiral, thick, about 20–200 mm, first whorls bicarinate, last whorl large often with strong spiral sculpture, knobs or spines, base convex, with or without umbilicus. Species in this genus have a round aperture and a solid, dome-shaped calcareous operculum.

The first Turbo species were found in the Upper Cretaceous, approximately 100 million years ago.

Taxonomy

According to Alf et al.^[3] the genus Turbo is divided in 16 Recent subgenera. The number of presently known living species in Turbo is 66 plus five subspecies.

Species

Species in the genus Turbo include:^[2][3][4]

Shell and operculum of Turbo tuberculosus

The following species are nomina nuda (names not published with an adequate description):^[2]

• Turbo curvatus Chiereghini MS, Brusina, 1870 (nomen nudum)

The following species are alternate representation:^[2]

• Turbo setosus Gmelin, 1843 represented as Turbo setosus Gmelin, 1791 (alternate representation)

The following species are nomina dubia (names of unknown or doubtful application):^[2]

• Turbo articulatus Reeve, 1848 (nomen dubium)
• Turbo concinnus Philippi, 1846 (nomen dubium)
• Turbo crellenus Linnaeus, 1758 (nomen dubium)
• Turbo disjunctus Anton, 1838 (nomen dubium)
• Turbo elegans Philippi, 1846 (nomen dubium)
• Turbo margaritaceus Linnaeus, 1758 (nomen dubium)
• Turbo pustulatus Brocchi, 1821 (nomen dubium)
• Turbo variabilis Reeve, 1842 (nomen dubium)

Human uses

Turbo shells are a favorite choice of shells for Coenobita clypeatus, the Caribbean hermit crab or "purple pincher" as it is known in the pet trade.

Turbo cornutus, common name the "horned turban", is an expensive food item in Korea, and Japan, where they are known as sazae.^{[citation needed]}

The attractively colored operculum of at least two different Turbo species has been used for various decorative purposes, including in jewelry and buttons. These opercula are sometimes known as "cat's eyes".

References

• Alf A., Kreipl K. & Poppe G. T. (2003) The Family Turbinidae, Subfamily Turbininae, Genus Turbo. In: Poppe G. T. & Groh K. (eds.): A Conchological Iconography: 68 pp., 95 colour plates, ConchBooks, Hackenheim, ISBN 3-925919-27-9.
• Williams, S.T. (2007). Origins and diversification of Indo-West Pacific marine fauna: evolutionary history and biogeography of turban shells (Gastropoda, Turbinidae). Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2007, 92, 573–592.
• Williams S. (2008) The calcareous operculum as a character for defining subgenera in the marine gastropod genus Turbo. Vita Malacologica 7: 1-13. [16 December 2008]

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