Xenophora

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Dimensions: 8,6 x 7,9 x 4,7 cm Scanned: 2016 Scanner: Artec Spider Image-2-600x446 Xenophora Snails Bear Foreign Objects on Their Shells Carrier shells are a type of medium-sized to large sea snail that belongs to the family Xenophoridae. This group of marine gastropod mollusks is known as carrier snails or carrier shells. The name Xenophora comes from two ancient Greek words, meaning "bearing foreigners." This refers to how most species in this genus attach pieces of rock or other shells to their own shell at regular intervals as they grow. These foreign objects are found on all whorls and cover more than 30% of the dorsal surface. While mollusk shells, pebbles, and small coral rocks are commonly used, some Xenophora snails have been known to attach unusual items like bottle caps to their shells.