Appearance
Turbo perspeciosus (Scaley Turban) presents as a variety of different colours, ranging from pale and lightly flecked with colour, to so highly flecked with colour that its base shade of yellow and turquoise is barely visible. Studies suggest that it is an individuals diet while a larvae and juvenile that determines adult shell colour (Kimani 1996), however a range of factors including geographical location, and other environmental variables such as temperature, light availability and water quality, may also be involved in shell colour determination.
Figure 1. Assortment of photographs highlighting the incredible colouration of a typical Turbo perspeciosus. (Photos courtesy of Francesco 2011) |