Shell Morphology

One of the most striking features of spider conch shells is their flaired outer lip, which is ornamented by six hollow marginal digations. Juveniles and subadults lack these digitations but instead have flattened lobes (Walls 1980). The stromboid notch is a feature that is unique to all strombids. It is though to serve as a "peek-hole" through which the right eye can see (Berg 1973). The aperture is wide and often pinkish in colour. The anterior siphonal canal is long and supports the siphon, through which water is drawn into the mantle cavity and over the gills (Berg 1973).