Splendid Top Shell [Calliostoma splendens]
Description
The Splendid Top Shell, or Calliostoma splendens, is a marine gastropod noted for its beautifully colored shell. The shell is conically shaped, with a height reaching up to 35 mm. It is mainly found in the Pacific Ocean, from Alaska to Baja California, inhabiting subtidal rocky reefs and kelp forests. It is nocturnal and feeds primarily on sponges.
Taxonomy
| Phylum |
Mollusks
Mollusca
|
|---|---|
| Class |
Gastropods
Gastropoda
|
| Order |
Vetigastropoda
Vetigastropoda
|
| Family |
Turbans and turban snails
Turbinidae
|
| Genus |
Jewel Top Shells
Calliostoma
|