Description: Bluntly pointed, solid, spiral shell with a markedly stepped profile and a prominent peripheral keel on the ultimate whorl. Overall, it has a low, conical shape. There are short, nodular ribs on the upper face of each whorl, above several spiral ridges and grooves. Colour is variable (can be white, grey or yellow) with irregular streaks or striping (brown, red or purple).

Habitat: Can be found on algae or under stones on the lower shore or on muddy gravel in the sublittoral, down to around 70 m.

Distribution: Recorded from the south and west coasts of Britain and west coast of Ireland. Also found in Strangford Lough but mostly absent from east coast of Ireland and Britain.

Similar Species: Could be confused with other topshells but the obvious stepped profile and prominent peripheral keel on upper whorl, coupled with the irregular striping should help distinguish it from others.

Key Identification Features:

• Blunt spiral shell with markedly stepped profile.
• Prominent peripheral keel on ultimate whorl.
• Variable colour with irregular streaks or stripes.

Distribution Map from NBN: Gibbula magus at National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.

iNaturalist: Gibbula magus at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

GBIF data for Gibbula magus

WoRMS: Gibbula magus at World Register of Marine Species. Accepted name: Gibbula magus (Linnaeus, 1758). AphiaID: 141790.

Classification: Biota; Animalia; Mollusca; Gastropoda; Vetigastropoda; Trochida; Trochoidea; Trochidae; Cantharidinae; Gibbula