Huge Turbunidae

Turbo marmoratus, is a species of marine gastropod with a large and thick operculum, belonging to the family Turbinidae, turret snails. It is often defined as green turban, marbled turban, or large green turban. The characteristic shell can reach a length of 18 cm. Its color scheme is green, veined with white and deep brown. The 6-7 whorls are flattened or concave on the top, rounded and bearing two knobby keels on the lower part and a stronger knobby keel on the upper part. It features blunted tubercles, particularly strong on the shoulders. Its large circular aperture has a golden and pearly luster. These large snails inhabit tropical coral reefs of the Indian Ocean (off Tanzania and Madagascar) and tropical Pacific Ocean in the western Pacific. They are nocturnal and feed on algae. Attractive lot: Turbo marmoratus unfinished. The shell of the large marine gastropod has undergone partial processing to remove the gray-green exterior calcareous layer without being fully polished. The outer calcareous layer is abraded or treated with mild acids to selectively “peel” the surface. Then a deep, final mirror-like polish is performed. This process serves to reveal the extraordinary underlying nacreous layer (mother-of-pearl), while keeping visible the natural striations and texture of the shell. The visual contrast that arises between the original rough bands (greens and browns) and the sections where the silvery nacre with pink, green and golden reflections shows through is absolutely spectacular. Happy bidding. Stand not included, used for photographic purposes only.

Estimate:£167.7

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