Horse Conchs, Spindles and Tulip Shells of the Fasciolariidae Family

Eight Horse Conchs, Spindle Conchs and Tulip Shells of the Fasciolariidae Family can be found in this website:

Phylogeny: Horse Conches, Spindles, and Tulip Shells of the Fasciolariidae Family are gastropod mollusks in the Neogastropoda order. Neogastropods are characterized by having a long siphonal canal, a well developed siphonal notch,  and a specialized radula. Many species in this order have a narrow aperture. Neogastropods are primarily marine snails and most of the well-known shell families are in this order. The Fasciolariidae Family is in the superfamily Buccinoidea, which is one of seven superfamilies in this order. Superfamily Buccinoidea consists of twenty families. The Fasciolariidae Family contains three subfamilies – Fasciolariinae with twenty-one genera, Fusininae with fifty-three genera, and Peristerniinae with thirty-two genera. There are also three stand alone genera in this Family. Within these one hundred nine genera there are five hundred sixty-four species. Shells in the Fasciolariidae Family are commonly called Fasciolariids.

Description: Fasciolariids are fairly diverse in appearance. They are medium to very large in size, and are generally fusiform (spindle-shaped). Most are elongated, with high spires, and siphonal canals that vary from short to very long. The whorls are strongly defined. Their apertures can be small to large.  The outer lip may be smooth or marked with fine teeth. The inside lip may be smooth or marked with folds. The exterior sculpting maybe smooth or consist of rounded axial knobs and spiral cords. These shells lack varices. Most shells in this family will have a periostracum and all shells have a corneous (horn-like material) operculum. The largest species in the Fasciolaridae Family can reach 60 cm (23.6  inches) in length.

Habitat and Distribution: As a general rule, the snails with shorter shells in the Fasciolariidae Family are found attached to rock or coral. Species with long siphon canals are found in deeper water on sand or mud substrates. Fasciolariids live in the intertidal zone, and at depths up to 3,600 m (11,800 feet). They are found world-wide, in tropical and subtropical seas. Twenty species from the Fasciolariidae Family are found in Mexican waters.

Natural History: Fasciolariid Snails are predators that consume barnacles, bivalves, gastropods, or worms. In turn they are preyed upon by shorebirds, crabs, fish, predatory mollusks and sea stars. They are gonochoric and reproduce sexually with internal fertilization. The eggs are laid in protective capsules. Fasciolariid Snails are edible and larger species are targeted by artisanal and smaller commercial fisheries.