Identification

Traditionally, the presence of a solid, convex calcareous operculum has been the key attribute used to identify an individual belonging to the family Turbinidae (Tunnell et al. 2010). This characteristic feature distinguishes Turbinidae from the remaining Trochoidean families Trochidae and Skenidae, which instead feature a corneous, multi-spiral operculum (Williams and Ozawa 2006).

The possession of a secondary appendage on the radula, which increases radula strength, is a distinguishing feature that more recently has been used to further assist in the identification of a Turbinidae over a Trochidae, while shell size and pigmentation characteristics can be used to separate Turbinidae from Skeneidae (Tunnell et al. 2010, Williams and Ozawa 2006).