Distribution: Common in the Solitary Islands Marine Park. Recorded from the Indo-West Pacific region, the Red Sea and Polynesia. In Australia recorded from Cape Leeuwin in Western Australia, across the tropical north, through Queensland south to around Sydney in New South Wales.
Ecological Notes: Lives in sheltered back reef and intertidal areas, in clean or muddy sand with algae. Feeds on macroalgae and epiphytes in the substrate. Depth from intertidal to 20 m.
Additional Notes: Animals of this genus are characterised by stalked eyes, and a powerful foot with a clawlike operculum which gives them considerable ability to escape predation. The larvae are planktotrophic, ensuring wide dispersal. Grows to 42 mm.
References: The Seashells of New South Wales, Des Beechey, Senior Fellow, Australian Museum, Release 25. Website at https://seashellsofnsw.org.au/Strombidae/Pages/Strombus_mutabilis.htm