Shell medium-sized to large, adults reaching a height of about 100 mm; medium- to thick-shelled and heavy; taller than wide (h/w= 1.1-1.5).
Apex red, very often eroded. Teleoconch of 4-5 whorls. Whorls rounded or angulate, sculptured with broad spiral cords which can be scaly to nearly smooth. Interspaces between cords often deeply channeled. Sculpture highly variable:
-numerous rows of spiny protrusions with thin secondary cords between them, whorls rounded.
-a broad row of large scaly protrusions on the shoulder and one or two broader rows of smaller scales at the periphery, thinner cords without scales at mid-body, whorls slightly angulate.
-only one broad cord with large shoulder spines; rest of body whorl sculptured with equally spaced cords, whorls slightly angulate.
-no protrusions or spines, but a distinct smooth cord at the shoulder, rest of body whorl with thinner, equally spaced cords, whorls slightly to distinctly angulate.
-no protrusions or spines, body whorl sculptured with equally spaced broad cords, whorls rounded.
Suture deep, often channeled. Columella evenly curved and smooth, bent backwards with a distinct gap at the umbilicus; aperture round; edge of columella extending downwards. Umbilicus widely open to very narrow, rarely closed sometimes leading into a white funicle, surrounded by one or two thin spiral cords plus a very broad one.
Basic color whitish, light beige, brownish or green with dots, blotches or flames of dark brown to almost black, in some specimens covering most of the shell surface. Aperture and columella white, nacreous inside. Operculum very thick, round, completely granulated; whitish to brown with an orange edge along the outer margin; often with a brownish to black blotch

Turbo canaliculatus: Shell medium-sized to large, adults reaching a height of about 95 mm; thin-shelled; taller than wide (h/w=1.2-1.3).Apex reddish. Teleoconch of about 6 well-rounded whorls. Sculpture on early whorls consisting of regular flat spiral cords, turning smooth; the last 2 or 3 whorls smooth except for very fine regular growth striae. In some specimens the spiral sculpture is present on all whorls (16 to 18 on the body whorl). Suture very distinct, broadly channeled, particularly on the last whorls turning into a broad subsutural ramp. Columella smooth and evenly curved, bent backwards at the anterior end; aperture round. Umbilicus closed, with a distinct umbilical groove bordering the columella. Basic color very variable: usually light brown to beige, but sometimes pale orange, green, bluish-green, dark brown or reddish, with an indistinct cloud or flame pattern and spiral bands of lighter and darker spots (often triangular). Surface glossy. Columella and aperture nacreous white; the umbilical groove may be colored or surrounded by light greenish or orange. Operculum thick, round, smooth, with a low central hump and some weak concentric grooves; white.

Turbo canaliculatus: -5m, SCUBA dived, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, 74.3mm., 1995/x.
The « Channeled Turban » is a very handsome turbinid with a distribution center in the Caribbeans, ranging from southern Florida, USA to Brazil. It gains its name from the conspicuously depressed channel-like subsutural zone, which is also its hallmark as although it is very variable in both coloration and strength of spiral ribs (some specimens almost completely lack ribs) the channel is always present. It is an algae-grazing herbivorous gastropod inhabiting rocky surfaces of shallow to moderately deep water ranging around -2-100m. Once ago rather uncommon but today it is known to be common and may be obtained quite reasonably. Typical shell length around 70mm., very large specimens may grow to approach 100mm.

Turbo canaliculatus: Turbo canaliculata Hermann, 1781 Channeled Turban
Distribution: Southeast Florida, Texas; West Indies; Brazil. Size: 51 to 76 mm.
Description: Color mottled pale brown to tan to darkish brown; shape turbinate with short but distinct spire; sculpture with 16 to 18 smooth, glossy spiral cords on body whorl; a distinct glossy channel runs parallel and just below the suture from the postnuclear whorl to the top of the large body whorl; whorls convex; spiral cords on early whorls microscopically beaded, becoming smooth on body and penultimate whorl; with crowded axial growth threads between cords; aperture round, white, and wide, inner lip callused, white; wide columella; anomphalous. Habitat: Found on algal reefs, coral reefs, and rocky outcrops at depths from 2 to 300 m (7 to 984 ft).
Remarks: Also known as the "handsomest turbo" in the western Atlantic. See Redfern (2001).
Synonyms: T spenglerianus Gmelin, 1791; T spengleri Schumacher, 1817.

A highly variable and very common species. Fischer described Turbo carduus in 1873, a shell which is almost identical to typical Turbo (Marmarostoma) argyrostoma . The only differences are the closed umbilicus and more numerous and densely set spines in carduus. Most authors consider Turbo carduus an imperforate variation of Turbo (Marmarostoma) a. argyrostoma, but more material is needed for study to decide whether this is a valid subspecies or even species.

Turbo (Marmarostoma) bruneus has an almost black operculum and a finer sculpture without scales. Turbo (Marmarostoma) crassus, Turbo (Marmarostoma) setosus, Turbo (Marmarostoma) tuberculosus and Turbo (Marmarostoma) sparverius have neither scaly protrusions at the shoulder and periphery nor an (usually) open umbilicus. Turbo (Marmarostoma) intercostalis has a smoother sculpture and a much narrower umbilicus; the operculum of Turbo (Marmarostoma) intercostalis is smooth and has no orange margin.

Turbo canaliculatus: Adult shells of Turbo (Taeniaturbo) canaliculatus cannot be confused with any other species due to the broadly channeled suture. Juvenile shells may be confused with Turbo (Taeniaturbo) cailletii which has a distinct umbilicus and is not as high-spired as canaliculatus.
Specimens with distinct spiral cords on the entire shell were described by Gmelin in 1791 as Turbo spenglerianus which is simply a form of Turbo (Taeniaturbo) canaliculatus

Indian Ocean to tropical Western Pacific.

Turbo canaliculatus: Southeastern Florida through the Caribbean to Brazil.