Tegula eiseni Jordan, 1936

Common name(s): Banded tegula, banded turban snail, western banded tegula
Synonyms: Tegula eiseni
Phylum Mollusca
 Class Gastropoda
  Subclass Prosobranchia
   Order Archaegastropoda
    Suborder Trochina
     Family Trochidae
Tegula eiseni at Dana Point, CA
(Photo by: Dave Cowles, April 2001)
Description:  Turban snails (in family Trochidae) are coiled snails with a raised spire and a horny operculum with spiral lines, have no slit, siphonal notch, nor anal notch in the aperture, and a pearly shell interior.   Tegula eiseni has a deep umbilicus (photo).  The whorls are inflated and have spiral ribs with nodes.  The shell is brownish in color with concentric black bands (see especially the underside--photo) and grows to 25 mm height.

How to Distinguish from Similar Species: Chlorostoma funebralis, the most common turban snail in our area, is black, the shell is often worn, and has a closed umbilicus.  Tegula gallina has a black shell with gray flecks.  Tegula aureotincta has an umbilicus which is bright yellowish-orange.

Geographical Range: Los Angeles, CA to Bahia Magdalena, Baja California

Depth Range: Middle and low intertidal

Habitat: On rocks and rubble.

Biology/Natural History: The radula is similar to that of T. mariana, a species that lives in Baja California.


 
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References:

Dichotomous Keys:
   Allen, 1976

General References:
  Morris et al., 1980

Scientific Articles:


General Notes and Observations:  Locations, abundances, unusual behaviors:

Underside
Underside of Tegula eiseni.  Note the open umbilicus.  This specimen has a hermit crab inside (claws visible)

Authors and Editors of Page:
Dave Cowles (2005):  Created original page.  Edited by Dave Cowles 2011