Strawberry Top Shell

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$20.00
$20.00
Unavailable
per item

This beautiful, top-shaped shell is commonly known as a Spotted Top Shell or Strawberry Top Shell. Its scientific name is Tectus (or Rochia) niloticus.

Your 2-inch specimen is a juvenile or a smaller adult. This species can grow to be quite large, sometimes exceeding 4-5 inches in height and diameter.

Here are some interesting details about this shell:

  • Identification: The key features are its classic conical "top" shape, the rows of small, bead-like bumps that cover the surface, and its coloration of reddish or purplish spots and streaks on a creamy white background.
  • Mother-of-Pearl: This shell is highly valued for the thick layer of iridescent nacre, or mother-of-pearl, that lies beneath its outer colored layer. For centuries, it has been harvested to make buttons, jewelry, inlay work, and other decorative items. Commercially, it is often one of the most important trochus species.
  • Habitat and Range: The Spotted Top Shell is native to the warm waters of the Indo-Pacific Ocean. It is an herbivore, typically found grazing on algae in shallow coral reef environments.
  • The Animal: The snail that creates this shell has a unique, jerky way of moving. It is also an important part of the coral reef ecosystem, helping to control algae growth.

1 available