Trochus is a genus of medium-to large-sized, top-shaped sea snails with an operculum, of the family Trochidae, the top snails.Bouchet, P.; Gofas, S. (2010). Trochus Linnaeus, 1758. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=138598 on 5 December 2012
When the word "trochus" or "Trochus" is used in reference to fishing sea snails for commercial purposes, the usual species targeted is Tectus niloticus, which is valued for its nacre or mother of pearl layer, which was traditionally made into items such as pearl buttons and jewelry. Tectus niloticus is no longer classified as a Trochus species, and it is no longer classified in the family Trochidae; it is now placed in the family Tegulidae.
History The name Trochus, according to P. FischerP. Fischer. Monog. Genre Troque, in Kiener's Coquilles Vivantes, Paris, 1880. was used for the first time by Guillaume Rondelet, in 1558, who assembled under this title a rather miscellaneous assortment of univalves. Linnaeus' genus Trochus is composed principally of true Trochidae, but it is now viewed as having contained species of several other very different families.
Lamarck further restricted the group, by eliminating several genera; and in the 19th century the labors of Gray, H. Adams and A. Adams and others, contributed towards a more systematic arrangement of the family.Tryon (1889), Manual of Conchology XI, Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia Further revisions have narrowed down the number of species in this genus, and most names have become synonyms.
Shell description Sea snails in the genus Trochus have large, thick, solid shells that have a broadly conical spire and a flat to convex base. The periphery is angulated. The outer and basal lips are smooth within. The columella has a strong fold above, ending in an obtuse tooth below.
The interior of the shell is pearly and iridescent because of a thick layer of nacre (mother of pearl).
Species Species within the genus Trochus include: † Trochus antipodum Wilckens, 1922 Trochus calcaratus Souverbie in Souverbie & Montrouzier, 1875 Trochus californicus (A. Adams, 1853) Trochus camelophorus Webster, 1906 Trochus cariniferus Reeve, 1842 Trochus chloromphalus (A. Adams, 1851) Trochus concinnus Philippi, 1846 Trochus cumingii A. Adams, 1853 Trochus elegantulus W. Wood, 1828 Trochus erithreus Brocchi, 1821 Trochus fastigiatus A. Adams, 1853 Trochus ferreirai Bozzetti, 1996 Trochus firmus Philippi, 1849 Trochus flammulatus Lamarck, 1822 Trochus fultoni Melvill, 1898 Trochus histrio Reeve, 1848 Trochus intextus Kiener, 1850 Trochus kochii Philippi, 1844 Trochus kotschyi Philippi, 1849 Trochus laciniatus Reeve, 1861 Trochus maculatus Linnaeus, 1758 Trochus nigropunctatus Reeve, 1861 Trochus noduliferus Lamarck, 1822 Trochus obesus Reeve, 1861 Trochus ochroleucus Gmelin, 1791 Trochus radiatus Gmelin, 1791 Trochus rota Dunker, 1860 Trochus sacellum Philippi, 1855 Trochus squarrosus Lamarck, 1822 Trochus stellatus Gmelin, 1791 † Trochus subanceps Sinzow, 1897 Trochus subincarnatus P. Fisher, 1879 Trochus submorum (Abrard, 1942) Trochus tentorium Gmelin, 1791 Trochus tubiferus Kiener, 1850 Trochus venetus Reeve, 1862 Trochus zhangi Dong, 2002
Synonyms
Trochus abanteus Nardo, 1847: synonym of Jujubinus montagui (Wood, 1828) Trochus abrodiaetus Nardo, 1847: synonym of Gibbula adriatica (Philippi, 1844) Trochus abyssorum E.A. Smith, 1891: synonym of Bathybembix abyssorum (E. A. Smith, 1891) Trochus acinosus Gould, 1849: synonym of Coelotrochus viridis (Gmelin, 1791) Trochus acuminatus Wood, 1828: synonym of Bembicium nanum (Lamarck, 1822) Trochus acuminatus Perry, 1811: synonym of Cantharidus opalus (Martyn, 1784) Trochus acutangulus Philippi : synonym of Trochus maculatus Linnaeus, 1758 Trochus adansoni [sic]: synonym of Gibbula adansonii (Payraudeau, 1826) Trochus adansonii Payraudeau, 1826: synonym of Gibbula adansonii (Payraudeau, 1826) Trochus adriaticus Philippi, 1844: synonym of Gibbula adriatica (Philippi, 1844) Trochus adspersus Philippi, 1851: synonym of Calliostoma adspersum (Philippi, 1851) Trochus aeglees Watson, 1879: synonym of Calliotropis aeglees (Watson, 1879) Trochus aegyptius Gmelin, 1791: synonym of Rubritrochus declivis (Forskål, 1775) Trochus agathensis Récluz, 1843: synonym of Gibbula umbilicalis (da Costa, 1778) Trochus agrestis Philippi, 1843: synonym of Calliostoma zizyphinum (Linnaeus, 1758) Trochus alabastrum Reeve, 1858: synonym of Euchelus alabastrum (Reeve, 1858) Trochus alabastrum Lovén, 1846: synonym of Calliostoma occidentale (Mighels & C. B. Adams, 1842) Trochus albidus Wood W., 1828: synonym of Calliostoma zizyphinum (Linnaeus, 1758) Trochus albidus Gmelin, 1791: synonym of Gibbula albida (Gmelin, 1791) Trochus altus Reeve (non Philippi), 1862: synonym of Trochus maculatus Linnaeus, 1758 Trochus alveolatus Philippi, 1851: synonym of Gibbula spratti (Forbes, 1844) Trochus amabilis Jeffreys, 1865: synonym of Solariella amabilis (Jeffreys, 1865) Trochus americanus Gmelin, 1791: synonym of Lithopoma americanum (Gmelin, 1791) Trochus angulatus Tokunaga, 1906: synonym of Conotalopia ornata (G. B. Sowerby III, 1903) Trochus anomala d'Orbigny, 1842: synonym of Vitrinella anomala (d'Orbigny, 1842) Trochus ardens Salis Marschlins, 1793: synonym of Gibbula ardens (Salis Marschlins, 1793) Trochus areola Gmelin, 1791: synonym of Heliacus (Heliacus) areola areola (Gmelin, 1791): synonym of Heliacus areola (Gmelin, 1791) Trochus argenteonitens Lischke, 1872: synonym of Ginebis argenteonitens (Lischke, 1872) Trochus armillatus Wood, 1828: synonym of Astele armillata (Wood, 1828) Trochus articulatus (Lamarck, 1822): synonym of Phorcus articulatus (Lamarck, 1822) Trochus asper Gmelin, 1791: synonym of Euchelus asper (Gmelin, 1791) Trochus asteriscus Reeve, 1843: synonym of Astralium asteriscum (Reeve, 1843) Trochus atratus Wood, 1828: synonym of Osilinus atratus (Wood, 1828) Trochus attenuatus Jonas, 1844: synonym of Tosatrochus attenuatus (Jonas, 1844) Trochus auratus Quoy & Gaimard, 1834: synonym of Bembicium auratum (Quoy & Gaimard, 1834) Trochus aureus Jonas, 1844: synonym of Bellastraea aurea (Jonas, 1844) Trochus baccatus G.B. Sowerby, 1889: synonym of Infundibulops cariniferus (Reeve, 1842) Trochus basteroti Hoernes, 1848: synonym of Gibbula adriatica (Philippi, 1844) Trochus baudoni Monterosato, 1891: synonym of Jujubinus baudoni (Monterosato, 1891) Trochus belcheri Philippi, 1849: synonym of Monilea belcheri (Philippi, 1849) Trochus bellardii Issel, 1869: synonym of Ethalia bellardii (Issel, 1869) Trochus biasoletti Philippi, 1836: synonym of Gibbula albida (Gmelin, 1791) Trochus bicanaliculatus Dunker in Philippi, 1844: synonym of Diloma bicanaliculata (Dunker in Philippi, 1844) Trochus bicarinatus Gray J.E., 1834: synonym of Gibbula magus (Linnaeus, 1758) Trochus bicolor Perry, G., 1811: synonym of Trochus radiatus Gmelin, 1791 Trochus bicolor Risso, 1826: synonym of Jujubinus exasperatus (Pennant, 1777) Trochus bilabiatus Philippi, 1846: synonym of Danilia tinei (Calcara, 1839) Trochus bornii Cantraine, 1835: synonym of Gibbula albida (Gmelin, 1791) Trochus brevispina Lamarck, 1822: synonym of Lithopoma brevispina (Lamarck, 1822) Trochus broderipi Philippi, 1855: synonym of Astele rubiginosa (Valenciennes, 1846) Trochus brunneus Philippi, 1849: synonym of Tegula brunnea (Philippi, 1849) Trochus caelatus Gmelin, 1791: synonym of Lithopoma caelatum (Gmelin, 1791) Trochus calcaratus Souverbie in Souverbie & Montrouzier, 1875: synonym of Infundibulum calcaratum (Souverbie in Souverbie & Montrouzier, 1874) Trochus callicoccus Philippi, 1849: synonym of Trochus maculatus Linnaeus, 1758 Trochus calliferus Lamarck, 1822: synonym of Monilea callifera (Lamarck, 1822) Trochus callosus Koch in Philippi, 1844: synonym of Ethalia sanguinea Pilsbry, 1905 Trochus calyptraeformis Lamarck, 1822: synonym of Sigapatella calyptraeformis (Lamarck, 1822) Trochus canaliculatus Lamarck, 1818: synonym of Euchelus atratus (Gmelin, 1791) Trochus cancellatus Jeffreys, 1883: synonym of Vetulonia paucivaricosa (Dautzenberg, 1889) Trochus candei d'Orbigny, 1844: synonym of Gibbula candei (d'Orbigny, 1844) Trochus capensis Gmelin, 1791: synonym of Gibbula capensis (Gmelin, 1791) Trochus carinatus d'Orbigny, 1842: synonym of Vitrinella carinata (d'Orbigny, 1842) Trochus carmesinus Webster, 1908: synonym of Coelotrochus carmesinus (Webster, 1908) Trochus charopus Watson, 1879: synonym of Solariella charopa (Watson, 1879) Trochus chemnitzii Philippi, 1848: synonym of Calliostoma zizyphinum (Linnaeus, 1758) Trochus chinensis Philippi, 1841: synonym of Stellaria chinensis (Philippi, 1841) Trochus chrysolaemus Martens, 1880: synonym of Priotrochus goudoti (Fischer, 1878) Trochus cicatricosus Philippi, 1843: synonym of Bembicium auratum (Quoy & Gaimard, 1834) Trochus cicer Menke, 1844: synonym of Gibbula cicer (Menke, 1844) Trochus ciliaris Menke, 1843: synonym of Astele ciliaris (Menke, 1843) Trochus cinctus Philippi, 1836: synonym of Solariella cincta (Philippi, 1836) Trochus cinerarius Linnaeus, 1758: synonym of Gibbula cineraria (Linnaeus, 1758) Trochus cinerascens Anton, 1838: synonym of Gibbula leucophaea (Philippi, 1836) Trochus cinereus Blainville, 1826 non Linnaeus, 1758: synonym of Gibbula umbilicalis (da Costa, 1778) Trochus cingulatus Grube, 1839: synonym of Jujubinus striatus (Linnaeus, 1758) Trochus circulatus Anton, 1849: synonym of Euchelus circulatus (Anton, 1849) Trochus clanguloides Wood, 1828: synonym of Clanculus clanguloides (Wood, 1828) Trochus clathratus Aradas, 1847: synonym of Putzeysia wiseri (Calcara, 1842) Trochus clelandi W. Wood, 1828: synonym of Clelandella miliaris (Brocchi, 1814) Trochus clodianus Nardo, 1847: synonym of Gibbula albida (Gmelin, 1791) Trochus colubrinus Gould, 1849: synonym of Phorcus sauciatus (Koch, 1845) Trochus concameratus W. Wood, 1828: synonym of Diloma concamerata (Wood, 1828) Trochus concavus Gmelin, 1791: synonym of Infundibulum concavum (Gmelin, 1791) Trochus conchyliophorus Born, 1780: synonym of Xenophora conchyliophora (Born, 1780) Trochus concinnus Philippi, 1846: synonym of Trochus tubiferus Kiener, 1850 Trochus conicus Donovan, 1803: synonym of Jujubinus striatus (Linnaeus, 1758) Trochus conoidalis Pease, 1868: synonym of Peasiella conoidalis (Pease, 1868) Trochus consors Lischke, 1872: synonym of Calliostoma consors (Lischke, 1872) Trochus constellatus Souverbie, 1863: synonym of Diloma constellata Souverbie, 1863 Trochus conuloides Lamarck, 1822: synonym of Calliostoma zizyphinum (Linnaeus, 1758) Trochus conulus Linnaeus, 1758: synonym of Calliostoma conulus (Linnaeus, 1758) Trochus cookii Gmelin, 1791: synonym of Cookia sulcata (Lightfoot, 1786) Trochus corallinus E.A. Smith, 1875: synonym of Homalopoma amussitatum (Gould, 1861) Trochus corallinus Gmelin, 1791: synonym of Clanculus corallinus (Gmelin, 1791) Trochus corcyrensis Stossich, 1865: synonym of Phorcus articulatus (Lamarck, 1822) Trochus corrugata Koch, 1843: synonym of Monilea callifera (Lamarck, 1822) Trochus cossurensis Monterosato, 1875: synonym of Gibbula rarilineata (Michaud, 1829) Trochus costalis Gould, 1841: synonym of Margarites costalis (Gould, 1841) Trochus cranchi Leach, 1852: synonym of Calliostoma zizyphinum (Linnaeus, 1758) Trochus crassus (Pulteney, 1799): synonym of Osilinus lineatus (da Costa, 1778) Trochus creniferus Kiener: synonym of Trochus incrassatus Lamarck, 1822 Trochus crenulatus Brocchi, 1814: synonym of Jujubinus exasperatus (Pennant, 1777) Trochus crispulus Philippi, 1844: synonym of Putzeysia wiseri (Calcara, 1842) Trochus crispus König, 1825: synonym of Xenophora (Xenophora) crispa (König, 1825) Trochus cruciatus Linnaeus, 1758: synonym of Clanculus cruciatus (Linnaeus, 1758)