Key:  Family Naticidae

Taken primarily from  Kozloff, 1987, 1996 p. 216  (Copyright 1987, 1996, University of Washington Press.  Used in this web page by permission of University of Washington Press)

Jump to:
Lower taxonomic level	Main Page	Alphabetic Index	Systematic Index	Glossary

1a	Umbilicus open (at least slightly), operculum horny	2
1b	Umbilicus closed by a callus; operculum calcified (periostracum brown or chestnut; subtidal)	Natica clausa
2a	Height up to slightly more than 3 cm; with 4 or 5 whorls; color usually whitish, grayish brown, or cream (formerly Pollinices pallidus)	Euspira pallida
2b	Height commonly more than 5 cm; with 5 or 6 whorls; color cream to pinkish, beige, or golden brown	3
3a	Inner lip of aperture with an almost tongue-shaped callus that spreads onto the body whorl, covering much of the umbilicus (thus the opening is not more than about one-eighth the diameter of the shell); height up to about 14 cm; abundant intertidally on sandflats but also subtidal (formerly Pollinices lewisii)	Euspira lewisii
3b	Inner lip of aperture without an extensive callus that covers much of the umbilicus (thus the umbilicus, measured across its greatest diameter, is about one-third the diameter of the shell); height up to about 9 cm; subtidal	Polinices draconis

  Euspira lewisii
  Euspira pallida