Shells
The shells of most species of sea snails are spirally coiled. Some, though, have conical shells, and these are often referred to by the common name of limpets. In one unusual family (Juliidae), the shell of the snail has become two hinged plates closely resembling those of a bivalve; this family is sometimes called the "bivalved gastropods".
The shells of living species of sea snails range in size from Syrinx aruanus, the largest living shelled gastropod species at 91 cm, to minute species whose shells are under 1 mm at adult size.
Because the shells of sea snails are strong and durable in many cases, as a group they are well represented in the fossil record.
The shells are found in a variety of shapes and sizes, but are normally very small.
Read more about this topic: Sea Snail
Famous quotes containing the word shells:
“The only fruit which even much living yields seems to be often only some trivial success,—the ability to do some slight thing better. We make conquest only of husks and shells for the most part,—at least apparently,—but sometimes these are cinnamon and spices, you know.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“It is not easy to make our lives respectable by any course of activity. We must repeatedly withdraw into our shells of thought, like the tortoise, somewhat helplessly; yet there is more than philosophy in that.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“We are going to pull out the plug. We have reached the point where shells do not hurt us any more.”
—Michel Aoun (b. 1935)