Tegula pulligo (Gmelin, 1791)

Common name(s): Dusky turban snail, Dusky tegula
Synonyms:
Phylum Mollusca
 Class Gastropoda
  Subclass Prosobranchia
   Order Archaegastropoda
    Suborder Trochina
     Family Trochidae
Tegula pulligo 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 pulligo has a columella with 1 or 2 small nodes and an open umbilicus (picture).  The inner lip of the aperture extends into a small flange at the junction with the umbilicus (picture).  It is brown or gray, sometimes with orange, white, or brown spots on the periphery.

How to Distinguish from Similar Species: This is the only local species with 1-2 nodes on the columella and an open umbilicus. Tegula montereyi, which lives farther south, also has these two features but the inner lip of the aperture recedes into the aperture and the umbilicus has a strong spiral cord (the radula also is quite different).  Tegula funebralis, the most common turban snail in our area, is black, the shell is often worn, and has a closed umbilicus.

Geographical Range: Sitka, Alaska to Baja California

Depth Range: Intertidal to subtidal

Habitat: Uncommon on low intertidal rocks inshore of kelp beds; more common subtidally in kelp forests.

Biology/Natural History: Found to be the most common turban snail in kelp forests in summer in Monterey Bay.  Mostly found living on the large brown algae.  Juveniles may be more common intertidally than are adults.


 
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References:

Dichotomous Keys:
  Kozloff 1987, 1996
  Smith and Carlton, 1975

General References:
  Morris et al., 1980

Scientific Articles:
 


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


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

Authors and Editors of Page:
Dave Cowles (2005):  Created original page