Class: Gastropoda

The gastropods are a large group, the members of which typically possess one (usually spiral-shaped) shell, or in some cases a reduced or absent shell. They also have a muscular "foot" which is primarily used for locomotion. There are many gastropod species in Southern California, offshore, along the coastlines and in our bays and estuaries.

Note: Click the images below to see larger versions of them!

Family: Naticidae

Glossaulax reclusiana (Deshayes, 1839)

Shell. © P. Tuskes

Live animal with mud-stained shell, fully extended.
​© P. Tuskes

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Sinum scopulosum (Conrad, 1849)

© D. Berschauer

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Family: Buccinidae

Kelletia kelletii (Forbes, 1850)

© D. Berschauer

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Family: Nassariidae

Nassarius tiarula (Kiener, 1841)

Dorsal view of shell, Mission Bay, San Diego, California.
​© R. J. Waayers

Live specimen, in situ, Mission Bay, San Diego, California.
​© R. J. Waayers

Nassarius fossatus (Gould, 1850)

Shell in two views, Mission Bay, San Diego, California. © R. J. Waayers

Live specimen in situ, Monterey Bay, California. © R. Clark

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Family: Muricidae

Pteropurpura festiva (Hinds, 1844)

Dorsal view of shell. © P. Tuskes

Live specimen in situ, with egg capsules. Mission Bay, San Diego, California. ​© R. J. Waayers

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Pteropurpura trialata (G. B. Sowerby II, 1834)

Series of shell specimens, showing morphological variation. ​© P. Tuskes

Dorsal view of shell. © P. Tuskes

Live specimen, in situ, with egg capsules.
​Mission Bay, San Diego, California. © R. J. Waayers

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Pteropurpura macroptera (Deshayes, 1839)

Dorsal view of shell. © P. Tuskes

Series of shell specimens, showing
​morphological variation ​© P. Tuskes

Live specimen in situ, Monterey Bay, California, © R. Clark

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Pteropurpura vokesae Emerson, 1964

Dorsal and ventral views of shell. © P. Tuskes

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Forreria belcheri (Hinds, 1843)

Shell specimens, showing size and other morphological variation. © P. Tuskes

Live specimen in situ, © P. Tuskes

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Babelomurex oldroydi (I. S. Oldroyd, 1929)

Dorsal and ventral views of shells. © P. Tuskes