Turbinidiids

Turbinidiids are a family of marine gastropod mollusks, commonly known as turbans or turban snails. They belong to the order Archaeogastropoda and are characterized by their generally heavy, turbiniform (top-shaped) shells. These shells often exhibit a pearly nacreous layer on the inside. Turbinidiids are found in oceans worldwide, inhabiting a variety of benthic environments from shallow rocky shores to deeper coral reefs. They are primarily herbivorous, feeding on algae scraped from surfaces using their radulae. A distinctive feature of many turbinidiids is their operculum, a calcareous or horny plate that seals the shell opening when the animal retracts. The shape and ornamentation of the shell, as well as the operculum, are important diagnostic features for identifying different species within the family. Some well-known genera include Turbo, Astraea, and Haliotis, though the latter is often placed in its own family, Haliotidae, due to significant differences. Turbinidiids play a role in marine ecosystems as herbivores and are sometimes collected for food or their shells.