Turritellidae
Filter-feeding sea snails with high-spired, convex shells.
Turritellidae, also called tower shells or tower snails, is a family of small to medium-sized marine gastropod molluscs within the clade Sorbeoconcha. Unlike most gastropods, they are filter feeders—a feeding strategy far more typical of bivalves.
The shells of these snails have whorls that are more rounded and apertures that are more circular than those of similarly tall-spired auger shells. Their columella is curved, and the thin operculum bears many horns. The animals burrow into mud or sand and have relatively small feet.
The family includes the following recognized genera:
Omalaxinae: †Omalaxis Orectospirinae: Orectospira Pareorinae: †Batillona, †Eligmostoma, Mesalia, Pareora, †Sigmesalia Protominae: †Allmonia, Protoma Turritellinae: Archimediella, Armatus, †Asiella, Banzarecolpus, Broderiptella, Callostracum, †Calvertitella, Caviturritella, †Colposigma, Colpospira, †Costacolpus, †Cristispira, Gazameda, Haustator, Helminthia, Incatella, †Kapalmerella, Maoricolpus, †Mariacolpus, †Nairiella, Neohaustator, †Nodosella, †Oligodia, †Peyrotia, †Ptychidia, †Roamerella, †Spirocolpus, Stiracolpus, †Tachyrhinchella, Tachyrhynchus, Torcula, †Torquesia, †Torquesiella, Tropicolpus, Turritella (the type genus), Turritellinella, Vermicularia, †Viennella, Zeacolpus Other: †Arcotia, †Leptocolpus
A notable fossil site is the Turritellenplatte of Ermingen near Ulm, Germany, in the northern North Alpine Foreland Basin. This sandstone deposit is rich in Turritella turris shells and reflects shallow, near-coastal marine conditions. Petrographic and paleontological evidence links it to the Burdigalian stage of the Lower Miocene, with strontium isotope data from shark teeth placing its age at around 18.5 million years.
- Common name
- Tower shells or tower snails
- Taxonomic rank
- Family
- Clade
- Sorbeoconcha
- Feeding method
- Filter feeders
- Notable for
- Burrowing into mud or sand; small feet; thin operculum with many horns
Lore & Background
The shells of turritellid species are characterized by whorls that are more convex and apertures that are more circular than those of the similarly high-spired auger shells. The columella is curved, and the thin operculum possesses many horns. These snails are filter feeders, a feeding method that is unusual among gastropod mollusks but very common in bivalves. They burrow into mud or sand, and their feet are relatively small. The family Turritellidae, known commonly as tower shells or tower snails, comprises small- to medium-sized marine gastropod molluscs within the Sorbeoconcha clade. The family includes numerous genera, with *Turritella* serving as the type genus. Notable fossil occurrences include the Turritellenplatte of Ermingen near Ulm, Germany, which lies in the northern part of the North Alpine Foreland Basin. This site is noted for its abundance of *Turritella turris* shells within sedimentary deposits, with the gastropod-rich sandstone reflecting near-coastal and shallow marine conditions. Petrographical and palaeontological data correlate this area with the Burdigalian age of the Lower Miocene epoch, and strontium-isotope analysis of shark teeth from the area indicates an age of approximately 18.5 million years.
Reader's Guide
Turritellidae are significant for their distinctive filter-feeding ecology, which is rare among gastropods but common in bivalves. Their fossil record is extensive, with the Turritellenplatte of Ermingen (near Ulm, Germany) providing a notable example of abundant Turritella turris shells in sedimentary deposits. This site, part of the North Alpine Foreland Basin, reflects near-coastal and shallow marine conditions and has been correlated with the Burdigalian age (Lower Miocene epoch), with an age of about 18.5 Ma based on Sr-isotope composition of shark teeth. The family includes numerous genera, both extant and extinct, such as Turritella (the type genus), and has been studied for its paleontological and biostratigraphic value.
Did You Know?
- Turritellidae are filter feeders, a feeding method unusual among gastropods but common in bivalves.
- Their shells have more convex whorls and more circular apertures than auger shells.
- The thin operculum of turritellids has many horns.
- The Turritellenplatte of Ermingen contains abundant Turritella turris shells and dates to about 18.5 Ma.
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