Commercial trochus

Whilst the outside of this sea snail’s shell is dull, the inside is beautifully shiny. This white layer is known as nacre or mother of pearl. The snail is commonly called the button top shell because the nacre was once used to make buttons.

Object Summary

Accession Loan No.
Moll1832
Collection Class
Molluscs
Common Name
commercial trochus
Simple Name
mollusc: shell
Period Classification
Victorian (1837-1901)

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Tectus niloticus (Linnaeus): TROCHIDAE: commercial trochus: button trochus