Reef Stories

menu-to-close-2

Bubble Shells

Sundials & Wendeltraps

Bubble Shells, Sundials, Wendeltraps



Shell Index

Bivalves



File Shells

Files Shells

Giant Clam

Gaint Clams

Oysters

Oysters

"Snails"



Auger

Augers

Bubble Shells

Bubble Shells

Conchs

conchs

Cones

Cones

Cowries

Cowries

Cystiscus

Cystiscus

Harp Shells

Harp Shells

Helmets

Helmets

Mitres

Mitres

Murex

Murex

Moon Shells

Moon Shells

Olives

Olives

Ovulid Cowries

Ovulid Cowries

Parasitic Shells

Parasitic Shells

Stromatolines

Stromatolines

Tritons

Tritons

Tuns

Tuns

Velutinid

Velutinid

Volutes

Volutes

Wendeltraps

Wendeltraps

Whelks

Whelks

Worm Shells

Worm Shells

Bubble Shells, Stomatella and Sundials form to some extent a bridge between the nudibranchs and marine shells. Wendelstraps with their strange shells are apart from other marine shells in their anatomy.

Only Sundials appear to be under threat of local extinction due to habitat loss and over collection.

Bubbles, Sundials & Co.

Relationships



This is my image

Bubble Shells



The name Bubble Shell relates to the inflated shape of the shell. Some are night active hunters while others graze algae during the day. They are distantly related to Sundial Shells.

Bullina lineata

Stomatella



Looking like a cross between a nudibranch and a snail, these fast-moving snails belong to a group called "Top Shells". They are vegatatarian.

Stomatella veria

Sundials



Sundial Shells are relatively ancient group with fossil forms found in the Miocene. They are predators, feeding on burrowing anenomes, zoanthids, sea pens and some coral species.

Large scale habitat destruction and exrtensive shell collection have had a major impact on them in many areas of the tropics.

Architectonica perspectiva
Heliacus variegatus

Wendeltraps



The name Wendeltrap comes from the Dutch for spiral staircase, which is a good description of the shell shape.

They live commensally or parasitically on anenomes, corals and related animals-. Epitonium hilleeanum is seen most often by divers. It feeds on Tubastrea species, and lays its' golden eggs on the side of the polyps.

Epitonium hilleeanum
Epitonium hilleeanum
Epitonium hilleeanum
Epitonium hilleeanum - laying eggs
Epitonium hilleeanum - laying eggs
Epitonium hilleeanum - eggs

Help Save Reefs!



The organisations that work to protect coral reefs and our oceans need as much support as they can get. Check out:

If you are a diver, and especially if you are an underwater photographer, donate. If you do nothing, there will be nothing to dive on and nothing to photograph.

These are suggestions, but not endorsements of the suggested organisations. It is your responsibility to review and check the charities you wish to donate to.

Bubble Shells

Bubble Shells

The name Bubble Shell relates to the inflated shape of the shell. Some are night active hunters while others graze algae during the day. They are distantly related to Sundial Shells.

Bullina lineata

Stromatolines

Stomatella

Looking like a cross between a nudibranch and a snail, these fast-moving snails belong to a group called "Top Shells". They are vegatatarian.

Stomatella veria

Sundials

Sundials

Sundial Shells are relatively ancient group with fossil forms found in the Miocene. They are predators, feeding on burrowing anenomes, zoanthids, sea pens and some coral species.

Large scale habitat destruction and exrtensive shell collection have had a major impact on them in many areas of the tropics.

Architectonica perspectiva
Heliacus variegatus

Wendeltraps

Wendeltraps

The name Wendeltrap comes from the Dutch for spiral staircase, which is a good description of the shell shape.

They live commensally or parasitically on anenomes, corals and related animals-. Epitonium hilleeanum is seen most often by divers. It feeds on Tubastrea species, and lays its' golden eggs on the side of the polyps.

Epitonium hilleeanum
Epitonium hilleeanum
Epitonium hilleeanum
Epitonium hilleeanum - laying eggs
Epitonium hilleeanum - eggs