Black Turban Snail

Black Turban Snail: scientific name Tegula funebralis, is a species of medium-sized sea snail with gills and an operculum, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Turbinidae. This Eastern Pacific Ocean species was previously known as Tegula funebralis. The species is found along the Pacific coast of North America from Vancouver Island to the central part of the Baja California peninsula in Mexico. Most adult individuals of this species have shells which are 20 to 40 mm (or about an inch, to an inch and three quarters) in diameter. 

Empty shells of this species are very often used by hermit crabs, especially Pagurus samuelis. In 1971 a new sense organ was discovered in this marine snail. Chemoreceptor organs were found near the base on the border of the leaflets of the ctenidium (comb-like respiratory gills), one on each leaflet. They form a light swelling near the base of the leaflet with a pocket lying within the swelling. Together they are termed a "bursicle".

 

 Black Turban Snail

 Black Turban Snail

 Black Turban Snail

Tegula Funebralis