Species lists

Snails and sea snails of Somalia: families M to Z (468 species)

GBIF holds records of 977 snail species (class Gastropoda) from Somalia. This page lists the 468 in families whose names begin with M to Z, among them murex shells and sea slugs.

Last checked 2026-11-13 153 sources Reading time: 12 min

In short

On 12 November 2026 the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), the international open database of species records, held records of 468 snail (families M to Z) species with Somalia as the country, in 61 families (GBIF occurrence search, Somalia).

The largest families by number of species on record are (GBIF Backbone Taxonomy):

  • Muricidae: 78
  • Mitridae: 44
  • Strombidae: 28
  • Terebridae: 28
  • Nassariidae: 20
  • Marginellidae: 18
  • Naticidae: 16
  • Trochidae: 16
  • Turridae: 15
  • Pomatiidae: 14

Most often recorded

The species with the most GBIF records from Somalia are Rochebrunia perrieri (56), Old's conch (37), Rochebrunia guillaini (35), festive lyria (28), inflated olive (23), Red-rimmed Melania (15) (GBIF occurrence search, Somalia).

247 of the 468 species have a single record from Somalia (same source).

Named after Somali places

12 species on this list carry Somalia or a Somali place in their scientific name, for example Nerinea somaliensis, Tiberia somaliensis, Distorsio somalica, Volvarina somalica, Murex somalicus, Crassispira somalica, Euthria somalica, Turridrupa bijubata, Gulella somaliensis, Ptychotrema somaliense, Tayloria somaliensis, Bolma somaliensis (GBIF Backbone Taxonomy).

Species under threat

The IUCN Red List places these species in a threatened category (GBIF species API, IUCN Red List category):

  • Endangered: Cleopatra rugosa, Paludomus ajanensis (IUCN via GBIF)

Families A to L are on Snails and sea snails of Somalia: families A to L.

How to read this list

A species is on this list when GBIF holds at least one record of it from Somalia. A record can be a museum specimen more than a century old, a sighting shared by an observer, or a specimen cited in a scientific paper. Some records are old and a few may be misidentified, so this is a list of records, not of what lives in Somalia today. Names follow the GBIF Backbone Taxonomy, which can lag behind the newest research.

Red List summary

  • Critically Endangered (CR): 0
  • Endangered (EN): 2
  • Vulnerable (VU): 0
  • Near Threatened (NT): 1
  • Least Concern (LC): 4
  • Data Deficient (DD): 2
  • Not Evaluated (NE): 459

Categories are from the IUCN Red List as published through GBIF (GBIF species API, IUCN Red List category).

Largest families

  • Muricidae: 78 species
  • Mitridae: 44 species
  • Strombidae: 28 species
  • Terebridae: 28 species
  • Nassariidae: 20 species
  • Marginellidae: 18 species
  • Naticidae: 16 species
  • Trochidae: 16 species
  • Turridae: 15 species
  • Pomatiidae: 14 species

Full list (468 species)

Each name links to its Calankii page where one exists, otherwise to its GBIF species page. "Records in Somalia" is the number of GBIF occurrence records with Somalia as the country, counted on 12 November 2026 (GBIF occurrence search, Somalia). The same rows, with Wikidata ids and more columns, are in the open data file species-recorded-in-somalia.csv.

This list is in 3 parts: 1 · 2 · 3

Name Scientific name Family Red List Records in Somalia
Eucithara coronata Eucithara coronata Mangeliidae NE 1
Gingicithara lyrica Gingicithara lyrica Mangeliidae NE 1
Mangelia hafisi Mangelia hafisi Mangeliidae NE 1
Parviterebra paucivolvis Parviterebra paucivolvis Mangeliidae NE 1
Alaginella pemphix Alaginella pemphix Marginellidae NE 1
Closia princeps Closia princeps Marginellidae NE 5
Closia sarda Closia sarda Marginellidae NE 2
Cryptospira grisea Cryptospira grisea Marginellidae NE 6
Eratoidea boyeri Eratoidea boyeri Marginellidae NE 1
Glabella mirabilis Glabella mirabilis Marginellidae NE 14
Glabella obtusa Glabella obtusa Marginellidae NE 14
Glabella rotunda Glabella rotunda Marginellidae NE 1
Marginella caterinae Marginella caterinae Marginellidae NE 8
Marginella emmae Marginella emmae Marginellidae NE 8
Marginella sultana Marginella sultana Marginellidae NE 1
Serrata brianoi Serrata brianoi Marginellidae NE 2
Volvarina dinisioi Volvarina dinisioi Marginellidae NE 4
Volvarina fortunata Volvarina fortunata Marginellidae NE 11
Volvarina monilis Volvarina monilis Marginellidae NE 12
Volvarina obscura Volvarina obscura Marginellidae NE 4
Volvarina pergrandis Volvarina pergrandis Marginellidae NE 1
Volvarina somalica Volvarina somalica Marginellidae NE 1
Volema nodosa Volema nodosa Melongenidae NE 1
Volema pyrum Volema pyrum Melongenidae NE 6
Domiporta carnicolor Domiporta carnicolor Mitridae NE 1
Domiporta granatina Domiporta granatina Mitridae NE 1
Gemmulimitra avenacea Gemmulimitra avenacea Mitridae NE 1
Imbricaria bacillum Imbricaria bacillum Mitridae NE 1
episcopal miter Mitra mitra Mitridae NE 3
papal miter Mitra papalis Mitridae NE 1
pontifical miter Mitra stictica Mitridae NE 4
Mitra turgida Mitra turgida Mitridae NE 1
Nebularia chrysostoma Nebularia chrysostoma Mitridae NE 1
Nebularia edentula Nebularia edentula Mitridae NE 1
Nebularia fastigium Nebularia fastigium Mitridae NE 2
Rusty Miter Nebularia ferruginea Mitridae NE 1
Nebularia incompta Nebularia incompta Mitridae NE 2
Nebularia pellisserpentis Nebularia pellisserpentis Mitridae NE 1
Neocancilla clathrus Neocancilla clathrus Mitridae NE 2
Neocancilla hemmenae Neocancilla hemmenae Mitridae NE 1
Neocancilla waikikiensis Neocancilla waikikiensis Mitridae NE 1
Pseudonebularia chrysalis Pseudonebularia chrysalis Mitridae NE 2
Cucumber Mitre Pseudonebularia cucumerina Mitridae NE 2
Pseudonebularia fraga Pseudonebularia fraga Mitridae NE 1
Pseudonebularia tabanula Pseudonebularia tabanula Mitridae NE 1
Pterygia crenulata Pterygia crenulata Mitridae NE 2
nut miter Pterygia nucea Mitridae NE 1
Quasimitra albocarnea Quasimitra albocarnea Mitridae NE 1
Quasimitra bovei Quasimitra bovei Mitridae NE 2
Quasimitra punctostriata Quasimitra punctostriata Mitridae NE 2
Quasimitra rinaldii Quasimitra rinaldii Mitridae NE 1
Quasimitra roselineae Quasimitra roselineae Mitridae NE 1
Quasimitra sanguinolenta Quasimitra sanguinolenta Mitridae NE 4
Roseomitra incarnata Roseomitra incarnata Mitridae NE 1
Strigatella amaura Strigatella amaura Mitridae NE 1
Strigatella ambigua Strigatella ambigua Mitridae NE 1
Related Miter Strigatella assimilis Mitridae NE 1
Orange Mitre Strigatella aurantia Mitridae NE 2
Strigatella coronata Strigatella coronata Mitridae NE 2
Strigatella imperialis Strigatella imperialis Mitridae NE 2
Lettered Mitre Strigatella litterata Mitridae NE 3
Strigatella luctuosa Strigatella luctuosa Mitridae NE 2
Strigatella paupercula Strigatella paupercula Mitridae NE 5
Strigatella scutulata Strigatella scutulata Mitridae NE 4
Strigatella telescopium Strigatella telescopium Mitridae NE 1
Strigatella ticaonica Strigatella ticaonica Mitridae NE 1
Subcancilla foveolata Subcancilla foveolata Mitridae NE 1
Swainsonia ocellata Swainsonia ocellata Mitridae NE 1
Indomodulus tectum Indomodulus tectum Modulidae NE 6
Aspella producta Aspella producta Muricidae NE 1
Attiliosa bozzettii Attiliosa bozzettii Muricidae NE 7
Babelomurex indicus Babelomurex indicus Muricidae NE 1
Babelomurex microspinosus Babelomurex microspinosus Muricidae NE 1
Calotrophon hemmenorum Calotrophon hemmenorum Muricidae NE 7
adusta murex Chicoreus brunneus Muricidae NE 1
Chicoreus dovi Chicoreus dovi Muricidae NE 5
Chicoreus elisae Chicoreus elisae Muricidae NE 3
Chicoreus laqueatus Chicoreus laqueatus Muricidae NE 1
Chicoreus maurus Chicoreus maurus Muricidae NE 1
Chicoreus microphyllus Chicoreus microphyllus Muricidae NE 2
branched murex Chicoreus ramosus Muricidae NE 8
virgin murex Chicoreus virgineus Muricidae NE 2
Coralliophila costularis Coralliophila costularis Muricidae NE 2
Coralliophila rashafunensis Coralliophila rashafunensis Muricidae NE 1
purple coral snail Coralliophila violacea Muricidae NE 1
Cytharomorula springsteeni Cytharomorula springsteeni Muricidae NE 1
Drupa albolabris Drupa albolabris Muricidae NE 1
mulberry drupe Drupa morum Muricidae NE 3
castor bean drupe Drupa ricinus Muricidae NE 7
porcupine castor bean Drupa rubusidaeus Muricidae NE 1
horn drupe Drupella cornus Muricidae NE 3
Oyster Drill Drupella margariticola Muricidae NE 3
lobate drupe Drupina lobata Muricidae NE 4
Ergalatax contracta Ergalatax contracta Muricidae NE 2
Favartia brevicula Favartia brevicula Muricidae NE 1
Favartia cecalupoi Favartia cecalupoi Muricidae NE 9
Favartia maculata Favartia maculata Muricidae NE 1
Galeropsis monodonta Galeropsis monodonta Muricidae NE 2
Haustellum franchii Haustellum franchii Muricidae NE 3
Snipe's Bill Haustellum haustellum Muricidae NE 1
Hexaplex bozzadamii Hexaplex bozzadamii Muricidae NE 9
Hexaplex kuesterianus Hexaplex kuesterianus Muricidae NE 3
banded dye-murex Hexaplex trunculus Muricidae NE 1
Pele's murex Homalocantha anatomica Muricidae NE 1
Homalocantha dovpeledi Homalocantha dovpeledi Muricidae NE 1
scorpion murex Homalocantha scorpio Muricidae NE 1
Homalocantha secunda Homalocantha secunda Muricidae NE 1
Mawe's latiaxis Latiaxis mawae Muricidae NE 1
Maculotriton serriale Maculotriton serriale Muricidae NE 2
Magilus latens Magilus latens Muricidae NE 1
Pimpled Thaid Mancinella alouina Muricidae NE 1
Mancinella armigera Mancinella armigera Muricidae NE 3
Lamarck's spiny rock shell Mancinella echinulata Muricidae NE 3
The Magpie Purpura Menathais tuberosa Muricidae NE 2
Mipus basicostatus Mipus basicostatus Muricidae NE 2
Morula uva Morula uva Muricidae NE 1
brevispined murex Murex brevispina Muricidae NE 4
Murex carbonnieri Murex carbonnieri Muricidae NE 2
woodcock murex Murex scolopax Muricidae NE 2
Murex somalicus Murex somalicus Muricidae NE 14
Murex surinamensis Murex surinamensis Muricidae NE 1
caltrop murex Murex tribulus Muricidae NE 3
Murichorda fiscellum Murichorda fiscellum Muricidae NE 1
Muricodrupa fenestrata Muricodrupa fenestrata Muricidae NE 3
Muricopsis chiarae Muricopsis chiarae Muricidae NE 1
three-angled murex Naquetia triqueter Muricidae NE 3
Nassa francolina Nassa francolina Muricidae NE 2
Garland Thaid Nassa serta Muricidae NE 1
The Cavernous Ricinula Pascula ochrostoma Muricidae NE 1
Pinaxia versicolor Pinaxia versicolor Muricidae NE 3
Pterynotus albobrunneus Pterynotus albobrunneus Muricidae NE 2
Pterynotus bipinnatus Pterynotus bipinnatus Muricidae NE 1
club murex Pterynotus elongatus Muricidae NE 2
Pterynotus martinetana Pterynotus martinetanus Muricidae NE 3
pellucid murex Pterynotus pellucidus Muricidae NE 1
toad purple Purpura bufo Muricidae NE 5
Rudolph's purpura Purpura panama Muricidae NE 8
bubble turnip Rapa rapa Muricidae NE 1
cantaloupe Rapana rapiformis Muricidae NE 1
Semiricinula konkanensis Semiricinula konkanensis Muricidae NE 1
Semiricinula squamosa Semiricinula squamosa Muricidae NE 1
Florida Rocksnail Stramonita haemastoma Muricidae NE 1
granular drupe Tenguella granulata Muricidae NE 4
Thais scalaris Thais scalaris Muricidae NE 1
Tylothais aculeata Tylothais aculeata Muricidae NE 1
Tylothais savignyi Tylothais savignyi Muricidae NE 2
Vexillum Rock Snail Vexilla vexillum Muricidae NE 4
Mauritian bullia Bullia mauritiana Nassariidae NE 11
Bullia semiplicata Bullia semiplicata Nassariidae NE 2
Bullia smytheae Bullia smytheae Nassariidae NE 1

This list is in 3 parts: 1 · 2 · 3

Sources

Sources

  1. GBIF occurrence search, Somalia · gbif.org
  2. GBIF Backbone Taxonomy · doi.org
  3. GBIF species API, IUCN Red List category · techdocs.gbif.org
  4. Eucithara coronata · gbif.org
  5. Mangelia hafisi · gbif.org
  6. Parviterebra paucivolvis · gbif.org
  7. Alaginella pemphix · gbif.org
  8. Closia princeps · gbif.org
  9. Closia sarda · gbif.org
  10. Cryptospira grisea · gbif.org
  11. Eratoidea boyeri · gbif.org
  12. Glabella mirabilis · gbif.org
  13. Glabella obtusa · gbif.org
  14. Glabella rotunda · gbif.org
  15. Marginella caterinae · gbif.org
  16. Marginella emmae · gbif.org
  17. Marginella sultana · gbif.org
  18. Serrata brianoi · gbif.org
  19. Volvarina dinisioi · gbif.org
  20. Volvarina fortunata · gbif.org
  21. Volvarina monilis · gbif.org
  22. Volvarina obscura · gbif.org
  23. Volvarina pergrandis · gbif.org
  24. Volvarina somalica · gbif.org
  25. Volema nodosa · gbif.org
  26. Volema pyrum · gbif.org
  27. Domiporta carnicolor · gbif.org
  28. Domiporta granatina · gbif.org
  29. Gemmulimitra avenacea · gbif.org
  30. Imbricaria bacillum · gbif.org
  31. episcopal miter · gbif.org
  32. papal miter · gbif.org
  33. pontifical miter · gbif.org
  34. Mitra turgida · gbif.org
  35. Nebularia chrysostoma · gbif.org
  36. Nebularia edentula · gbif.org
  37. Nebularia fastigium · gbif.org
  38. Rusty Miter · gbif.org
  39. Nebularia incompta · gbif.org
  40. Nebularia pellisserpentis · gbif.org
  41. Neocancilla clathrus · gbif.org
  42. Neocancilla hemmenae · gbif.org
  43. Neocancilla waikikiensis · gbif.org
  44. Pseudonebularia chrysalis · gbif.org
  45. Cucumber Mitre · gbif.org
  46. Pseudonebularia fraga · gbif.org
  47. Pseudonebularia tabanula · gbif.org
  48. Pterygia crenulata · gbif.org
  49. nut miter · gbif.org
  50. Quasimitra albocarnea · gbif.org
  51. Quasimitra bovei · gbif.org
  52. Quasimitra punctostriata · gbif.org
  53. Quasimitra rinaldii · gbif.org
  54. Quasimitra roselineae · gbif.org
  55. Quasimitra sanguinolenta · gbif.org
  56. Roseomitra incarnata · gbif.org
  57. Strigatella amaura · gbif.org
  58. Strigatella ambigua · gbif.org
  59. Related Miter · gbif.org
  60. Orange Mitre · gbif.org
  61. Strigatella coronata · gbif.org
  62. Strigatella imperialis · gbif.org
  63. Lettered Mitre · gbif.org
  64. Strigatella luctuosa · gbif.org
  65. Strigatella paupercula · gbif.org
  66. Strigatella scutulata · gbif.org
  67. Strigatella telescopium · gbif.org
  68. Strigatella ticaonica · gbif.org
  69. Subcancilla foveolata · gbif.org
  70. Swainsonia ocellata · gbif.org
  71. Indomodulus tectum · gbif.org
  72. Aspella producta · gbif.org
  73. Attiliosa bozzettii · gbif.org
  74. Babelomurex indicus · gbif.org
  75. Babelomurex microspinosus · gbif.org
  76. Calotrophon hemmenorum · gbif.org
  77. adusta murex · gbif.org
  78. Chicoreus dovi · gbif.org
  79. Chicoreus elisae · gbif.org
  80. Chicoreus laqueatus · gbif.org
  81. Chicoreus maurus · gbif.org
  82. Chicoreus microphyllus · gbif.org
  83. branched murex · gbif.org
  84. virgin murex · gbif.org
  85. Coralliophila costularis · gbif.org
  86. Coralliophila rashafunensis · gbif.org
  87. purple coral snail · gbif.org
  88. Cytharomorula springsteeni · gbif.org
  89. Drupa albolabris · gbif.org
  90. mulberry drupe · gbif.org
  91. castor bean drupe · gbif.org
  92. porcupine castor bean · gbif.org
  93. horn drupe · gbif.org
  94. Oyster Drill · gbif.org
  95. lobate drupe · gbif.org
  96. Ergalatax contracta · gbif.org
  97. Favartia brevicula · gbif.org
  98. Favartia cecalupoi · gbif.org
  99. Favartia maculata · gbif.org
  100. Galeropsis monodonta · gbif.org
  101. Haustellum franchii · gbif.org
  102. Snipe's Bill · gbif.org
  103. Hexaplex bozzadamii · gbif.org
  104. Hexaplex kuesterianus · gbif.org
  105. banded dye-murex · gbif.org
  106. Pele's murex · gbif.org
  107. Homalocantha dovpeledi · gbif.org
  108. scorpion murex · gbif.org
  109. Homalocantha secunda · gbif.org
  110. Mawe's latiaxis · gbif.org
  111. Maculotriton serriale · gbif.org
  112. Magilus latens · gbif.org
  113. Pimpled Thaid · gbif.org
  114. Mancinella armigera · gbif.org
  115. Lamarck's spiny rock shell · gbif.org
  116. The Magpie Purpura · gbif.org
  117. Mipus basicostatus · gbif.org
  118. Morula uva · gbif.org
  119. brevispined murex · gbif.org
  120. Murex carbonnieri · gbif.org
  121. woodcock murex · gbif.org
  122. Murex somalicus · gbif.org
  123. Murex surinamensis · gbif.org
  124. caltrop murex · gbif.org
  125. Murichorda fiscellum · gbif.org
  126. Muricodrupa fenestrata · gbif.org
  127. Muricopsis chiarae · gbif.org
  128. three-angled murex · gbif.org
  129. Nassa francolina · gbif.org
  130. Garland Thaid · gbif.org
  131. The Cavernous Ricinula · gbif.org
  132. Pinaxia versicolor · gbif.org
  133. Pterynotus albobrunneus · gbif.org
  134. Pterynotus bipinnatus · gbif.org
  135. club murex · gbif.org
  136. Pterynotus martinetana · gbif.org
  137. pellucid murex · gbif.org
  138. toad purple · gbif.org
  139. Rudolph's purpura · gbif.org
  140. bubble turnip · gbif.org
  141. cantaloupe · gbif.org
  142. Semiricinula konkanensis · gbif.org
  143. Semiricinula squamosa · gbif.org
  144. Florida Rocksnail · gbif.org
  145. granular drupe · gbif.org
  146. Thais scalaris · gbif.org
  147. Tylothais aculeata · gbif.org
  148. Tylothais savignyi · gbif.org
  149. Vexillum Rock Snail · gbif.org
  150. Mauritian bullia · gbif.org
  151. Bullia semiplicata · gbif.org
  152. Bullia smytheae · gbif.org
  153. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species · iucnredlist.org

Toosoo!

Calankii is made by Toosoo, which works for one united, prosperous Somalia.

Can you help with Snails and sea snails of Somalia: families M to Z (468 species)? Tell us what you can give.

I want to help with this
What you can give

Only the core team sees your answer. We never share or publish it. Privacy · or email hello@calankii.com.

All the ways to help

Places in this area

Related

Keep reading