Description: Distinctively cone-shaped shell with 16-20 swollen whorls, ending in a pointed apex. It is up to 55 x 16 mm in size. There are 3-6 lighter coloured spiral ridges on the buff-coloured shell, possibly with some purple hues at the base. Aperture is small and the circular operculum is small with some bristles. The animal itself is buff-coloured with dark spots or streaks. There are tentacles around the outside of the mantle which may have white markings. The siphon and foot may also have some white markings.

Habitat: Low water (springs) down to around 200 m on muddy sediment.

Distribution: Widespread around Britain and Ireland.

Similar Species: Unlikely to be confused with any other species.

Key Identification Features:

• Distinctive tower shaped shell.
• Small, circular operculum with bristles.
• Tentacles around outside of mantle.

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

iNaturalist: Turritellinella tricarinata at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

GBIF data for Turritellinella tricarinata

WoRMS: Turritellinella tricarinata at World Register of Marine Species. Accepted name: Turritellinella tricarinata (Brocchi, 1814). AphiaID: 1381415.

Classification: Biota; Animalia; Mollusca; Gastropoda; Caenogastropoda; Caenogastropoda incertae sedis; Cerithioidea; Turritellidae; Turritellinae; Turritellinella