Biodiversity & Conservation

An auger shell - Turritella communis

Turritella communis

Image Keith Hiscock - Turritella communis on sediment. Image width ca 5 cm.
Image copyright information

  • #
  • #
  • #
  • #
Distribution map

Turritella communis recorded (dark blue bullet) and expected (light blue bullet) distribution in Britain and Ireland (see below)

Why do the maps differ?

Sightings Have you seen Turritella communis?
If so please submit your record.

Turritella communis is not listed under any importance categories.

Taxonomy icon Taxonomy Taxon English term
Phylum Mollusca Snails, slugs, mussels, cockles, clams & squid
Class Gastropoda Snails, slugs & sea butterflies
Authority Risso, 1826
Recent synonyms None
Map icon Recorded Distribution in Britain and Ireland Common around Britain and Ireland but not recorded from the south east coast of England.
Habitat information icon Habitat information Abundant on muddy sediments in shallow water, more or less buried but maintaining contact with the water. This species is slow moving and sits on the seabed filtering seawater for particles of food. It may be gregarious, occurring in large numbers. It can be found down to 200 m.
Text page icon Description The shell is a tall, slender, sharply pointed cone. There may be as many as 20 whorls, each bearing spiral ridges and grooves. The shell is brownish- yellow to white in colour and often with a lilac tinge on the base, and grows up to 3 cm in length and 1 cm wide. The shell aperture is small and squarish. The operculum is edged with pinnate bristles. The foot of the snail is small, the flesh buff with dark spots and streaks and there is white markings on the tentacles, siphon and foot.
Identifying features
  • Tall, slender cone shaped shell.
  • The shell is brownish -yellow to white in colour.
  • Grows up to 3 cm in length and 1 cm wide.
  • The shell aperture is small and square.
  • The snail has white markings on its tentacles, siphon and foot.
Additional information icon Additional information Very large numbers of empty shells are often washed up on the shore.

This review can be cited as follows:

Michelle Carter 2008. Turritella communis. An auger shell. Marine Life Information Network: Biology and Sensitivity Key Information Sub-programme [on-line]. Plymouth: Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. [cited 19/05/2013]. Available from: <http://www.marlin.ac.uk/speciesinformation.php?speciesID=4536>