Uncommon in the Solitary Islands Marine Park. Indo-west Pacific, Indonesia, Mascarene Islands, Red Sea and Mauritius. In Australia recorded from the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland south to northern New South Wales.
Frequents coral and rocky reef areas. Probably rarely seen due to its cryptic habit of secretion under rocks and coral slabs.
Fusiform (spindle shaped), rich brown in colour with chocolate brown spiral ribs. The exposed foot is a red/orange colour, operculum dark brown to black, see lower photo, obverse shown. Grows to 4 cm. Formerly known as Latirulus turritus.
Australian Shells, BR Wilson, K Gillett, AH and AW Reed Pty Ltd, Sydney, 1980. p.56.
Atlas of Living Australia website at https://bie.ala.org.au/search?q=Turrilatirus+turritus. Accessed 12/11/2018.