BEACHCOMBER

IN JULY, HUNDREDS OF WAVY TURBAN SNAILS were scattered on Coronado’s beaches. While it’s not uncommon to find these snails tucked in jetty rocks, it’s rare to see so many on the beach. Native to the Pacific coast from Point Conception to Baja California, the wavy turban snail, or Megastraea undosa, lives in intertidal rocky shores down to depths of 250 feet. The shell is conical, up to 6 inches tall and is heavy with a flat bottom. The snail protects itself from predators by closing the operculum, a smooth “trapdoor” that covers the entire opening. The operculum is hard, thick and flat and seals the snail into its housing; the seal also helps to keep the snail wet when the tide goes out. A brownish-to-red layer called periostracum covers the shell. The rough outer layer is an ideal growing surface for algae, which offers a good camouflage in the tidal areas. Underneath the layer of periostracum is a beautiful pearly shell, sometimes used to make buttons. Primarily herbivores, wavy turban snails bottom feed on algae and kelp. Their natural predators are octopus, fish, sea stars and other snails. They are commercially fished in Mexico. ■

Class: Gastropoda Order: Trochida Family: Turbinidae Genus: Megastraea Species: M. undosa

Wavy turban snail

CORONADOBEACHCOMBER

Coronado’s shoreline changes with the weather, tides and time of year. Coronadobeachcomber explores our shores daily on the beach or at the bay, paying attention to the interesting animals, shells and sea life. Follow @coronadobeachcomber on Instagram.