Fasciolaria tulipa


Fasciolaria tulipa, common name the true tulip, is a species of large sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Fasciolariidae.

Distribution

This species occurs from the North Carolina coast all the way south and west to the Gulf coast of Texas, also in the West Indies and Brazil.

Shell description

The tulip shell has a outline, with an overall smooth surface, and presents fine growth lines, and small denticles on the inner edge of its delicate outer lip. It is whitish to tan in color, with rows of darker brownish blotches of various sizes. Over the blotches are symmetrical rows of thin lines which spiral along the whorls of the shell, which are normally about 9 in number.
The shell of an adult tulip snail can be from 2.5” to 9.5” inches in length.

Gallery

Habitat

Fasciolaria tulipa usually lives in sand flats and seagrass beds, especially where the turtle grass is present, at depths of nearly 30 feet.

Feeding habits

This snail eats bivalves and various other gastropods including the banded tulip Fasciolaria lilium, and the queen conch Eustrombus gigas.