True Tulip Snail (Fasciolaria tulipa) |
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| Description The tulip is a carnivore that is closely related to the horse conch, both belonging to the family Fasciolariidae. It preys on other molluscs, including oysters. The thick, sculptured lip of the tulip shell is used to chip a hole in the prey's shell, then the proboscis is inserted. This is a large snail that is pointed at both ends, with a high spire and long siphonal canal. It has a smooth, spindle shaped shell with dark lines spiraling around. It can grow up to 8". The color is variable, and the spiral lines around the shell are interrupted. There is no ridge inside the aperture. The egg cases are distinctive. They are made of translucent protein and each case contains many eggs. They look like laterally flattened cones that are attached to firm surfaces. They appear similar to the egg cases of the horse conch, but are smaller, about 0.7". [Ref. Ruppert and Fox] |
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| Complete
classification tree Family = Fasciolariidae Superfamily = Muricoidae Order = Neogastropoda Subclass = Prosobranchia Class = gastropoda Phylum = mollusca |
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| Recognition
characteristics - Larger snail, up to 8 inches - Brown, chitinous operculum - 2 or 3 small spiral grooves just below the suture - Spindle-shaped shell which is moderately high spired |
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| Local
habitat In Summer Haven River and estuaries |
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| Collection
method Specimens may be taken by hand at night working shallow water with a light. They can also be collected by seine in the shallow estuary creeks. |
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| Links
and references Ruppert, Edward and Fox, Richard. Seashore Animals of the Southeast. University of South Carolina Press, 1988. http://www.jaxshells.org/bite3.htm http://www.sanibelflorida.com/seashells/truetulip.htm http://www.gastropods.com/t/Shell_Fasciolaria_tulipa.html http://www.charlloyd.com/shells/stock/40.html http://www.shellmuseum.org/sanibel_shells_pictures3.html |
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