A Conchological Iconography: Family Turbinidae, Volume 1 Subfamily Turbininae, Genus Turbo

About this book

Within the family Turbinidae, the subfamily Turbininae contains many species with very attractive shells. This book deals with the species of the genus Turbo. Most Turbo species are large and beautiful, they have an elegant form, many have a very interesting and attractive sculpture and most of them have distinct unique opercula. Nevertheless, in the past not only collectors but also scientists did not show much interest in these shells. The genus has never been revised and no compilation has ever been made since the publications by Reeve, Tryon and Philippi. That is also the reason why there exists a certain chaos concerning the species names. Even in books and publications by established authors wrong names are sometimes used. It seems that the Turbos – despite their beauty – are a "forgotten" group. They urgently need and deserve a scientific revision and the first step, a compilation of current knowledge, is taken here.

This contribution is not meant to be a revision of the living Turbos but a compilation of the presently known species and subspecies and all the information available about these shells. The authors also try to discuss and illustrate "species" where still very little is known and where more material is needed to be sure about the identification of some of them. Perhaps this publication could become the basis for or even a catalyst for a revision. Besides the scientific need, the authors want to show the beauty of the Turbo species and the fascination the Turbos can have for scientists as well as for collectors interested in this rather poorly understood and difficult but nevertheless very pretty group of shells. The first volume describes and illustrates the species of the genus Turbo, a second part treats the genera Bolma, Astraea, Astralium, Guildfordia and Cookia (the rest of the subfamily Turbininae) and Prisogaster (subfamily Prisogasterinae). For the other subfamilies too little material is available for study at the moment and too little is known about them.

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