MOLLUSCA : Trochida : CalliostomatidaeSNAILS, SLUGS, ETC.

Calliostoma zizyphinum (Linnaeus, 1758)


Calliostoma zizyphinum image: _b182158
Calliostoma zizyphinum

Description: This topshell has a straight-sided conical shell, usually with markings in pink and red. A white form lyonsii is common at some localities, especially in strong tidal streams.

Habitat: Predominantly a sublittoral species, almost ubiquitous on rocky substrata where it feeds on a variety of sessile invertebrates, especially hydroids.

Distribution: Widely distributed all round the British Isles.

Similar Species: Juveniles could be confused with other topshells such as Clelandella clelandi.

Key Identification Features:

  • Straight-sided conical shell.
  • Pink markings on shell.

Distribution Map from NBN: Calliostoma zizyphinum at National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.

iNaturalist: Calliostoma zizyphinum at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

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 Picton, B.E., Keatley, L. & Morrow, C.C. (2026). Calliostoma zizyphinum. (Linnaeus, 1758). [In] Encyclopedia of Marine Life of Britain and Ireland.
https://habitas.org/mbdp/species.php?item=W2000. Accessed on 2026-11-01