Plates gallery

Here you find a reference source of larger images comparing multiple shells.
These plates are useful for identification, for illustrating variation within a species,
or for studying diversity within a geographical area.
I recommend that you download a plate to your own device and zoom in to see the detail.

Polyplacophora spp. (Lavanono, Madagascar)

Chitons from around Lavanono, on the southern cape of Madagascar.

Polyplacophora spp. (Washington, USA)

Chitons from Washington state: families Mopaliidae and Tonicellidae.

Polyplacophora spp. (Pacific Panama)

Chitons from the Pacific coast of Panama.

Polyplacophora spp. (Caribbean)

Chitons from the Caribbean Sea.

Polyplacophora spp. (Russia)

Chiton species from eastern Russia.

Polyplacophora spp. (New Zealand)

Chiton species from New Zealand.

Pleurotomariidae spp.

Worldwide Pleurotomariidae species.

Fissurellidae spp. (Philippines)

A small selection of the many Fissurellidae species recorded in the Philippines.

Scissurellidae and Anatomidae spp.

Micro-shells of families Scissurellidae and Anatomidae.

Seguenzioidea spp.

Worldwide species from superfamily Seguenzioidea. Families Seguenziidae, Eucyclidae, Chilodontaidae and Calliotropidae.

Ethminolia spp. (South Africa)

A comparison of closely-related species from South Africa. Family Trochidae.

Calliostomatidae spp.

A small selection of Calliostomatidae from the Indo-Pacific and Japonic provinces.

Calliostomatidae spp.

A small selection of worldwide Calliostomatidae.

Colloniidae spp.

A small selection of Colloniidae species from Hawaii, the Philippines, Madagascar and South Africa.

Liotiidae spp. (Philippines)

A selection of Liotiidae species from the Philippines. Many of these species have been described quite recently.

Viana spp. (Cuba)

Some of the different forms of Viana from western Cuba. Family Helicinidae.

Cyclophoridae and Alycaeidae spp. (Laos, Cambodia)

Self-collected snails from Laos and Cambodia. Family Cyclophoridae and the closely-related family Alycaeidae.

Cyclophoridae and Alycaeidae spp. (Thailand)

Self-collected snails from southern Thailand. Family Cyclophoridae and the closely-related family Alycaeidae.

Cyclophoridae spp. (Philippines)

A selection of Cyclophoridae species from the Philippines.

Diplommatinidae spp. (Indo-China)

A selection of Diplommatinidae from the Indo-China peninsula, excluding the Malay peninsula.

Diplommatinidae spp. (Malay peninsula)

A selection of Diplommatinidae from the Malay peninsula.

Diplommatinidae spp. (Borneo)

A selection of Diplommatinidae from Borneo.

Diplommatinidae spp.

A selection of Diplommatinidae from India, Sumatra, the Philippines, Taiwan and Japan.

Melanopsis spp. (Morocco)

Freshwater snails from Morocco. Family Melanopsidae.

Melanopsis spp. (Spain)

Freshwater snails from Spain. Family Melanopsidae.

Pleuroceridae spp. (USA)

Freshwater snails from rivers and lakes in the USA. Many of these species are affected by habitat loss and pollution.

Pickworthiidae spp.

Micro-shells of family Pickworthiidae.

Freshwater snails from Lake Baikal, Russia

Baicaliidae spp. and Valvatidae spp. from Lake Baikal.

Caecum spp. (Pacific Mexico)

Panamic Caecum species from Mexico, including juveniles and sub-adults. Family Caecidae.

Hydrobiidae spp. (Eastern Europe)

Freshwater snails of family Hydrobiidae.

Pyrgulopsis spp. (USA)

Freshwater snails from California and Oregon. Family Hydrobiidae.

Tateidae spp. (New Zealand)

Freshwater micro-snails from New Zealand, family Tateidae.

Pomatiopsidae spp. (Laos)

Freshwater micro-snails from Laos, family Pomatiopsidae.

Moitessieriidae spp. (Eastern Europe)

Freshwater micro-snails from Eastern Europe, family Moitessieriidae.

Truncatelloidea spp. (Pacific Mexico)

Panamic species of Tornidae, Teinostomatidae and Vitrinellidae, from Mexico.

Tropidophora spp. (Madagascar)

Named Tropidophora species from Madagascar. Family Pomatiidae.

Tropidophora tricarinata (Madagascar)

Variations of Tropidophora tricarinata, most of which have been given names at the subspecies level. Family Pomatiidae.

Tropidophora spp. (Madagascar)

Tropidophora from Tsingy Beanka in north-west Madagascar, including 3 undescribed species. Family Pomatiidae.

Abbottella spp. (Dominican Republic)

A comparison of 3 closely-related species in genus Abbottella. Family Annulariidae.

Abbottellinae spp. (Dominican Republic)

A comparison of 20 species in subfamily Abbottellinae, all from the Dominican Republic. Family Annulariidae.

Annulariidae spp. named by Tom Watters

All these species were described by G. Thomas Watters (1953–2019).

Annularisca spp. (Cuba)

Some of the Annularisca species from Cuba. Family Annulariidae (subfamily Abbottellinae).

Rissoidae spp. (Mediterranean)

Some of the Rissoidae species from the Mediterranean Sea.

Rissoidae spp. (South Africa)

A few Rissoidae species from South Africa, including some that are probably undescribed.

Rissoinidae spp. (Philippines)

A selection of Rissoinidae species from the Philippines.

Euprotomus spp.

Conch shells of genus Euprotomus. Family Strombidae.

Eulimidae spp. (Panamic province)

A few Panamic Eulimidae species, shown next to a €1 coin.

Cypraeovula spp. (South Africa)

Some of the species and subspecies in genus Cypraeovula.

Cypraeovula coronata (South Africa)

The subspecies of Cypraeovula coronata.

Cypraeovula coronata (South Africa)

Localities for the subspecies of Cypraeovula coronata.

Cypraeovula volvens (South Africa)

A range of sizes of Cypraeovula volvens.

Bistolida spp.

Species and subspecies of Bistolida from across the Indo-Pacific.

Umbilia spp. (Australia)

Species and subspecies of genus Umbilia, including some fossils.

Zoila friendii (Western Australia)

A range of sizes of Zoila friendii.

Zoila marginata (Western Australia)

A selection of Zoila marginata, including the albanyensis form.

Zoila venusta (Western Australia)

Zoila venusta and some of its named forms.

Cypraeidae spp. (South Africa)

Ventrums of Cypraeidae species and subspecies from South Africa. Not all are endemic.

Cypraeidae spp. (South Africa)

Dorsums of Cypraeidae species and subspecies from South Africa. Not all are endemic.

Naticidae spp. (West Africa)

A selection of Naticidae species from West Africa.

Epitoniidae spp. (South Africa)

A selection of Epitoniidae species from South Africa.

Epitoniidae spp. (Pacific Mexico)

A selection of Panamic Epitoniidae species from Mexico.

Cycloscala spp. (Philippines)

The 4 Cycloscala species recorded from the Philippines. Family Epitoniidae.

Opalia spp. and cf. (Philippines)

Opalia, Gregorioiscala and Rectacirsa species from the Philippines. Family Epitoniidae.

Epitoniidae spp. – apical and adapical views

Apical and adapical views of some worldwide Epitoniidae species. Images are NOT to scale.

Triphoridae spp. (Philippines)

A selection of Triphoridae from the Philippines.

Triphoridae spp. (South Africa, Mozambique)

A small selection of Triphoridae from South Africa and Mozambique.

Cerithiopsidae spp. (Philippines)

Cerithiopsidae species from the Philippines.

Cerithiopsidae spp. (South Africa)

Cerithiopsidae species from South Africa.

Cerithiopsidae spp. (Pacific Mexico)

Panamic Cerithiopsidae species from Mexico.

Engina spp.

Worldwide Engina species. Family Pisaniidae.

Engina spp.

Apical and adapical views of worldwide Engina species. Images are NOT to scale. Family Pisaniidae.

Tudiclidae spp.

Worldwide species in family Tudiclidae.

Columbellidae spp. (South Africa)

A small number of the Columbellidae species from South Africa.

Columbellidae spp. (Madagascar)

Columbellidae species from the southern tip of Madagascar.

Columbellidae spp. (Pacific Panama)

Panamic Columbellidae species from Mexico.

Nassariinae spp. (South Africa)

Nassarius and related species from South Africa. Family Nassariidae, subfamily Nassariinae.

Bullia spp. (South Africa)

Some of the Bullia species from South Africa. Family Nassariidae, subfamily Bulliinae.

Phos spp. (Philippines)

Phos species from the Philippines. Family Nassariidae, subfamily Photinae.

Fasciolariidae spp. named by Marty Snyder

A few of the species named by the conchologist Martin ('Marty') Avery Snyder (1943–2024).

Aspellinae spp. (Pacific Panama)

Muricidae from Pacific Panama that are currently assigned to subfamily Aspellinae.

Ocenebrinae spp.

Muricidae that are currently assigned to subfamily Ocenebrinae. Worldwide.

Ocenebrinae spp.

Muricidae that are currently assigned to subfamily Ocenebrinae. Worldwide.

Nucella lamellosa (Alaska)

Variation in size, colour and pattern of Nucella lamellosa from Alaska. Size range 59.4 to 74.6mm. Family Muricidae.

Columbariidae spp.

Worldwide Columbariidae species.

Columbariidae spp. – protoconchs

Protoconchs of Columbariidae species.

Volutomitra spp. (New Caledonia)

Volutomitra species from New Caledonia. Family Volutomitridae.

Babyloniidae spp.

A selection of Babyloniidae species.

Morum spp.

A selection of worldwide Morum species. Family Harpidae.

Callipara spp. (South Africa)

Closely-related Callipara species from South Africa. Family Volutidae.

Cymbiola spp. (Australia)

A selection of Cymbiola species and subspecies from Queensland. Family Volutidae.

Cymbium spp.

Different Cymbium species from the eastern Atlantic. Family Volutidae.

Lyria spp. (Madagascar)

All of the Lyria species recorded from Madagascar. Family Volutidae.

Voluta spp. (Caribbean Sea)

Some of the Voluta species and subspecies from the Caribbean. Family Volutidae.

Volutidae spp. – sinistral freaks

Reverse-coiled Volutidae. All specimens are from the collection of Carl and Craig Ruscoe in Preston, Lancashire, UK.

Prunum spp. (Caribbean and Brazil)

Prunum species from the Caribbean and Brazil. Family Marginellidae.

Bullata spp. (Brazil)

Bullata species from Brazil. Family Marginellidae.

Marginellidae spp. (West Africa)

A selection of Marginellidae from West Africa.

Marginellidae spp. (South Africa)

A selection of Marginellidae from South Africa. Genus Marginella.

Marginellidae spp. (South Africa)

A selection of Marginellidae from South Africa.