MOLLUSCA : ARCHAEOGASTROPODA : TrochidaeSNAILS, SLUGS, ETC.

Calliostoma zizyphinum (Linnaeus, 1758)


Calliostoma zizyphinum

Description: This topshell has a straight-sided conical shell, usually with markings in pink and red. A white form lyonsii is common at some localities, especially in strong tidal streams.

Habitat: Predominantly a sublittoral species, almost ubiquitous on rocky substrata where it feeds on a variety of sessile invertebrates, especially hydroids.

Distribution: Widely distributed all round the British Isles.

Similar Species: Juveniles could be confused with other topshells such as Clelandella clelandi.

Key Identification Features:

Distribution Map: NBN map : National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.

WoRMS: Species record : World Register of Marine Species.

iNaturalist: Species account : iNaturalist World Species Observations database



 Picton, B.E. & Morrow, C.C. (2016). Calliostoma zizyphinum (Linnaeus, 1758). [In] Encyclopedia of Marine Life of Britain and Ireland.
https://www.habitas.org.uk/marinelife/species.asp?item=W2000 Accessed on 2025-02-10

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