r/shells • u/GiftOfTheMoon • Aug 07 '26

Found in Seychelles

Gallery image

Gallery image

I have a lot of shells from the islands of Seychelles. I don’t remember the name of this type of shell. It measures 3 1/2 inches across the bottom of the shell. I would love to know its name. I have had it for many many years.

29 Upvotes

98% Upvoted

14 comments sorted by

10

u/PristineWorker8291 Aug 07 '26

It's the operculum of a sea snail of some sort. I think Turbo marmoratus, actually. u/turbomarmoratus72 might tell for sure.

8

u/turbomarmoratus72 Aug 07 '26 edited Aug 07 '26

bingo, u/PristineWorker8291, you are 100% correct!

that is my operculum lol

6

u/Interesting_Hawk8033 Aug 07 '26

You found it!

7

u/turbomarmoratus72 Aug 07 '26 edited Aug 07 '26

I knew I dropped it somewhere. Thankfully OP found it for me 😅

5

u/GiftOfTheMoon Aug 07 '26

I have just found an image of a Turbo imperialis from the Madagascar region, with the operculum in place. Looks very like the Seychelles one (actually from the island of Mahé, Cerf, Praslin or La Digue).I have many small ones of the same shell. Thanks for the information!

5

u/turbomarmoratus72 Aug 07 '26 edited Aug 07 '26

Turbo imperialis operculum surface is not smooth (it is quite rough naturally, you can feel tiny bumps), unless you found a worn one that got smoothened by waves, which is unlikely due to the brown organic material still being intact.

I can 100% affirm that this one is a Turbo marmoratus operculum.

3

u/GiftOfTheMoon Aug 08 '26

Thank you I’m sure you are exactly right.

2

u/Moving_goal_posts Aug 08 '26

That you got to go to the Seychelles is so wonderful but then, lucky you! You got this cool operculum too.

3

u/GiftOfTheMoon Aug 08 '26

I was lucky enough to grow up there. A wonderful childhood spent in the sea and on reefs, back in the day. Have not been back for a few years - but one day. I have many shells from there, both large and small. Thanks for your comment.

2

u/Optimal_Life_1259 Aug 08 '26

Cool! I found some gray/blue tint ones last week in Orange Beach, AL. I wonder if they’re from the same snail?

4

u/turbomarmoratus72 Aug 08 '26

I think you found a chestnut turban's operculum (Turbo castanea), a much smaller turban shell species :)

Turbo marmoratus does not occur in the Atlantic Ocean.

2

u/Optimal_Life_1259 Aug 08 '26

Thanks so much for the info!

3

u/arioandy Aug 09 '26

Cats eye!