Tricolia pullus Pheasant Shell, Lesser Pheasant Snail, European Pheasant Shell

Tricolia pullus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Tricolia pullus is a small shell snail in the family Phasianellidae, colloquially known as pheasant snails. The family includes small to medium-sized snails with a shiny, usually egg-shaped shell. The inside is porcelain-like. Pheasant snails have an operculum to close the shell opening. They live in temperate and warm waters.

Tricolia pullus was first described by Carl von Linné in 1758. The species name "pullus" is Latin and means "chick". The small sea snail is widespread from the British Isles to the Mediterranean. It can be found on rocky coasts from the lower shore up to around 35 m, mostly among red algae. Red algae (Laurencia, Lomentaria, Mastocarpus), diatoms and detritus are eaten. Tricolia pullus is often found in large numbers on the red algae.

The pheasant chick grows to a maximum size of 1cm and has a conical or turban-shaped, shiny shell with 5-6 coils. The shell is yellowish or white with reddish-brown or purple stripes, often forming a zigzag pattern. It occupies a conspicuous white calcareous operculum. The lateral lobes of the foot have 3 pairs of tentacles.

The adults are gonochoristic, i.e. H. they consist of either males or females. The eggs are released into the sea and fertilized externally.

The small sea snail is the host of the endoparasite Proctoeces maculatus and is attacked by its larvae and adult parasites.
​
Synonymised names
Eudora pullus (Linnaeus, 1758) · unaccepted
Eudora pullus var. mediocris Monterosato, 1917 · unaccepted (synonym)
Eudora pullus var. sanguinolaria Monterosato, 1917 · unaccepted (synonym)
Phasianella crassa Brusina, 1865 · unaccepted (junior subjective synonym)
Phasianella fascicularis Dautzenberg, 1911 · unaccepted (junior subjective synonym)
Phasianella pontica Milaschewitsch, 1909 · unaccepted (junior subjective synonym)
Phasianella pulla [sic] · unaccepted (misspelling of Phasianella pullus...)
Phasianella pulla var. albina Monterosato, 1880 · unaccepted (synonym)
Phasianella pulla var. tricolor Monterosato, 1880 · unaccepted (synonym)
Phasianella pulla var. zigzag Monterosato, 1880 · unaccepted (synonym)
Phasianella pullulus Anton, 1838 · unaccepted (synonym)
Phasianella pullus (Linnaeus, 1758) · unaccepted (superseded combination)
Phasianella pullus var. bipunctata Pallary, 1938 · unaccepted (synonym)
Phasianella pullus var. flammulata Bucquoy, Dautzenberg & Dollfus, 1884 · unaccepted (synonym)
Phasianella pullus var. lineata Bucquoy, Dautzenberg & Dollfus, 1884 · unaccepted (synonym)
Phasianella pullus var. rosea Bucquoy, Dautzenberg & Dollfus, 1884 · unaccepted (synonym)
Phasianella pullus var. unifasciata Monterosato, 1880 · unaccepted (synonym)
Tricolia hoberti brindisfax F. Nordsieck, 1973 · unaccepted (synonym)
Tricolia pontica (Milaschewitsch, 1909) · unaccepted
Tricolia pullus farolita F. Nordsieck, 1973 · unaccepted (synonym)
Tricolia pullus pullus (Linnaeus, 1758) · unaccepted > superseded rank
Tricolia punctata Risso, 1826 · unaccepted (synonym)
Tricolia tricolor (Monterosato, 1880) · unaccepted
Tricoliella punctata (Risso, 1826) · unaccepted
Turbo flammeus Salis Marschlins, 1793 · unaccepted (synonym)
Turbo pullus Linnaeus, 1758 · unaccepted
Turbo pullus pullus Linnaeus, 1758 · unaccepted

Direct children (5)
Subspecies Tricolia pullus azorica (Dautzenberg, 1889) accepted as Tricolia azorica (Dautzenberg, 1889) (unaccepted > superseded rank)
Subspecies Tricolia pullus canarica F. Nordsieck, 1973 accepted as Tricolia azorica (Dautzenberg, 1889) (unaccepted > junior subjective synonym)
Subspecies Tricolia pullus farolita F. Nordsieck, 1973 accepted as Tricolia pullus pullus (Linnaeus, 1758) accepted as Tricolia pullus (Linnaeus, 1758) (synonym)
Subspecies Tricolia pullus picta (da Costa, 1778) accepted as Tricolia picta (da Costa, 1778) (unaccepted > superseded rank)
Subspecies Tricolia pullus pullus (Linnaeus, 1758) accepted as Tricolia pullus (Linnaeus, 1758) (unaccepted > superseded rank)