Bubble Shells
Sundials & Wendeltraps
Bubble Shells, Sundials, Wendeltraps
Shell Index
Bivalves
File Shells
Giant Clam
Oysters
"Snails"
Auger
Bubble Shells
Conchs
Cones
Cowries
Cystiscus
Harp Shells
Helmets
Mitres
Murex
Moon Shells
Olives
Ovulid Cowries
Parasitic Shells
Stromatolines
Tritons
Tuns
Velutinid
Volutes
Wendeltraps
Whelks
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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.
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.
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.
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.
