The largest of the marine snails around LHI is the turban shell Turbo cepoides. It can be orange or green in colour, grows to eight cm in diameter and (as the name suggests) is coiled into a turban shape. The opening of the turban shell can be sealed with a large circular stopper attached to its foot. This stopper is also made of calcium carbonate and grows with the snail, always an exact fit, allowing the animal to withdraw and seal its soft body from predators or dehydration. This species is endemic to the Island and Middleton and Elizabeth reefs to the north
Size: to 8cm
