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Tegula funebralis (Black turban snail)
Copyright © 2007
Mary Jo Adams
Found in the upper and middle intertidal zones of exposed beaches, the black turban snail will often seek out shaded areas and crevices when the tide recedes. It reaches a diameter of 1-1/4th in./ 3 cm. and color ranges from dark purple to black. The top of the spire may be worn away revealing a pearly white inner layer. This snail feeds on soft algae including Macrocystis and Nereocystis. In turn, it is preyed on by red rock crabs (Cancer productus), purple sea stars (Pisaster ochraceous), and sea otters (Enhydra lutris). The black turban snail sometimes hosts a black limpet (Lottia asmi) or slipper snail (Crepidula adunca) which hitchhike along on its shell. This snail ranges from British Columbia to northern Mexico.
This
page was created by Mary Jo Adams on 3/19/07.
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