Clanculus tonnerrei

Classification (WoRMS)

Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Mollusca · Class: Gastropoda · Order: Trochida · Family: Trochidae · Genus: Clanculus.

Accepted name: Clanculus tonnerrei · Authority: (G. Nevill & H. Nevill, 1874) · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 211264.

Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Clanculus (Clanculopsis) tonnerrei (G. Nevill & H. Nevill, 1874); Clanculus gennesi H. Fischer, 1901; Clanculus gibbonsi G. B. Sowerby III, 1912; Euchelus bicinctus auct. non R. A. Philippi, 1849; Euchelus erythraeensis Sturany, 1903; Trochus (Clanculus) tonnerrei G. Nevill & H. Nevill, 1874.

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=211264 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Biology and life history (SeaLifeBase)

Measured values published by SeaLifeBase for Clanculus tonnerrei. Only fields the database actually holds for this species are shown; these are database values, not aquarium guidance.

Habitat zone: benthic · Aquarium trade: never/rarely.

SeaLifeBase notes: Found under rocks in intertidal areas (Ref. 130068). Members of the family Trochidae browse on detritus and algae, sometimes filter-feeding (Ref. 349).

Source: SeaLifeBase species summary (SpecCode 165858) — https://www.sealifebase.se/summary/Clanculus-tonnerrei.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

21 georeferenced occurrence records for Clanculus tonnerrei are published through GBIF from 6 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 4 distinct locations from a sample of 21 records, omitting 6 inland records that carry an institution's coordinates rather than a collection site; it shows where the species has been observed and reported, not a modelled range.

Most records by country or area: Mozambique (6); Egypt (4); Israel (4); Saudi Arabia (4); United Arab Emirates (2); Oman (1).

Marine regions with a valid WoRMS distribution record: Red Sea; Djiboutian Exclusive Economic Zone; Kenyan Exclusive Economic Zone; Tanzanian Exclusive Economic Zone; Mozambican Exclusive Economic Zone.

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 4358096) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=4358096&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=211264 (CC BY 4.0); Natural Earth 110m basemap — https://www.naturalearthdata.com/ (public domain). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

Many specimens of Clanculus tonnerrei (G & H Nevill 1874) have been misidentified as belonging to Euchelus bicinctus, following a misidentification of Issel (1869) (Herbert, 1996).

The height of the shell attains 14 mm, its diameter mm. The umbilicate shell has a conoidal shape. It is granulate-cingulate with the cinguli unequally elevated. The smaller ones are interpolated, numbering 5 to 6 between suture and the periphery, 7 to 8 on the base of the body whorl obtusely angulated. The granules are rosy-red colored with white subalternating. The suture is moderate. The very oblique aperture is subquadrangular. Its fauces is sulcate, corresponding to the ridges of the exterior. The outer margin is obtuse and subcrenulated. The basal margin is plicatulate. The columella is disjoined and prominently denticulate above, oblique, with 1 or 2 tubercles where it joins the basal margin. The white umbilicus is narrow. Its margin is not crenate, with an elevated fold within the periphery.

(Description of Euchelus bicinctus auct. non Philippi, 1849 by Philippi) The small, conical shell is perforate, and transversely striate. It color is white, radiated with rose. The shell is angular below the suture, the angle nodose. The body whorl is carinated in the middle. The base is rounded. The aperture as high as wide. The throat is striated. The columella is arcuate, terminating in a bipartite tooth at the base.

(Further description by G.W. Tryon) There are 5 whorls. Above the shoulder angle there are two shallow spiral furrows.

are 4, of equal breadth to the elevated interspaces; and on the base about 12.

This species occurs in the Red Sea and in the Indian Ocean off Djibouti, the Mascarene basin, Kenya, Mozambique and Tanzania.

Source: Wikipedia: Clanculus tonnerrei — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clanculus_tonnerrei (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.

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