Turritellidae

Turritellidae is a family of sea snails within the class Gastropoda. They are placed in the superfamily Cerithioidea and include numerous genera, with Turritella as the type genus. Members are commonly referred to as tower shells or turret shells.

Shells are elongate and high-spired, comprising many tightly coiled whorls. The surface may be smooth or ornamented with ribs or spiral cords. The aperture is typically small relative to shell height, and the siphonal canal is reduced or inconspicuous.

Turritellidae species are distributed worldwide in marine environments, from shallow intertidal zones to deeper waters. They often inhabit soft sediments such as muds and sands, where their burrowing and feeding habits help stabilize the local substratum. Some species occur in estuarine settings.

Ecologically, most turritellids are detritivores or herbivores, grazing on microalgae and organic matter on sediment surfaces. They possess a larval stage that disperses in the plankton, facilitating wide geographic distribution. They can occur in large numbers in suitable habitats.

The family has a long fossil record that is well represented in marine sediments from the Paleozoic onward, making Turritellidae an important group in mollusk paleontology. Their abundant, often slender, turret-shaped shells preserve well and provide data for stratigraphy and paleoenvironmental studies.