Description:-

Shell large, globose with inflated body whorl; spire sunken deeply. Shell surface smooth and polished, Aperture wide, extending almost the entire length of the shell, outer lip uniformly curved and extending posteriorly; continuous with columella; Colour creamy white profusely mottled brownish colour with scattered purplish brown blotches. Aperture and columella white. Operculum absent

Threats:-

Remark:-

The species has been reported from Kerala by Bijukumar(2012) and Franklin and Laladhas(2014). Rao (2003) has confirmed the presence of this species as common along both east and west coasts of India.

Habitat:-

Intertidal or in shallow water mainly found in sandy mud

Synonyms:-

Bulla columellaris Menke, 1854;
Bulla columellaris var. bifasciata Menke, 1854;
Bulla columellaris var. vermiculata Menke, 1854
Bulla delorti Mabille, 1896;
Bulla trifasciata G. B. Sowerby II, 1868;
Bulla villosa Martyn, ; 1784 (Unavailable name (ICZN Opinion 456);
Bullaria ampulla (Linnaeus, 1758);
Quibulla selina Iredale, 1929

References:-

Franklin, J.B. and Laladhas, K.P. 2014. Marine Gastropods of Kerala. Kerala State Biodiversity Board, Thiruvananthapuram, India, 186pp.
Biju Kumar, A. 2012. ‘Kerala Theerathe Kadal Jeevikal’ (Marine Animals of Kerala coast- A Field Guide). Kerala State Biodiversity Board, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, 304 pp. (In Malayalam)
Subba Rao, N.V. 2003 Indian seashells. Records of the Zoological Survey of India ZSI, Kolkata (Part 1) 416 pp.