Cymia tectum
NameCymia tectum
Scientific NameCymia tectum
Common NameTectum Rock Snail
FamilyMuricidae
GenusCymia
Speciestectum
Geographic DistributionWestern Atlantic Ocean, including Florida, the Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and Brazil.
Habitatintertidal
Shell Shapeconical
Average Size (mm)30-70
Identifying FeaturesRobust, nodulose shell with a dark exterior. The most striking identifying feature is the deep purplish-red aperture with a white columella and prominent white teeth on the outer lip. Possesses a well-developed siphonal canal.
Raritycommon
Author Citation(Wood, 1828)
Description
Cymia tectum, commonly known as the Tectum Rock Snail, is a robust marine gastropod belonging to the family Muricidae. Its shell is characterized by a thick, heavy structure with prominent axial ribs and spiral cords, often resulting in a nodulose or somewhat spiny appearance. The exterior is typically dark, while the interior of the aperture displays a striking deep purplish-red or maroon color, contrasting with a white columella and distinct white denticles on the outer lip. It is a predatory snail found in intertidal and shallow subtidal zones of the Western Atlantic.
