cancellaria

Cancellaria is a genus of marine gastropod mollusks in the family Cancellariidae, commonly known as nutmeg shells. The genus comprises several species distributed in oceans worldwide, with a prevalence in subtropical and tropical regions.

Shells in this genus are typically robust and ovate to elongate, featuring a cancellate (lattice-like) surface sculpture formed by crossing ridges. The aperture is relatively large, and the shell may have a short siphonal canal, contributing to its distinctive appearance.

Most species inhabit sandy or muddy substrates on the continental shelf and upper slopes, ranging from shallow subtidal zones to deeper waters. They are benthic animals that live on or within the sediment.

Cancellaria species are generally detritivores or scavengers, feeding on organic material in the sediment. They have a marine gastropod life cycle that includes free-swimming larval stages, as is common among many sea snails.

Because of their distinctive and often attractive shells, members of the genus are collected by mollusk enthusiasts and studied by malacologists.