---
title: Prosobranchia (Prosobranchia)
scientific_name: Prosobranchia
common_name: Prosobranchia
rank: Subclass
published: 2024-11-19T18:41:51.573Z
updated: 2026-08-03T21:27:47.405Z
tags: Prosobranchia, Prosobranchia, Red Sea, Marine Life, Diving
url: https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/invertebrate/molluscs/prosobranchia
---

# Prosobranchia (*Prosobranchia*)

## Quick facts

- **Rank:** Subclass
- **Scientific name:** Prosobranchia
- **Species listed here:** 4

## How to recognise this group

- most with a spirally coiled shell
- often with an operculum sealing shell opening
- crawling on a muscular foot
- pair of cephalic tentacles extended from head (many species)

Prosobranchia, a group of marine gastropod molluscs, are named for their characteristic gills positioned in front of the heart. Members typically possess a spirally coiled shell, though some forms are cap-like or dish-shaped. A well-developed operculum generally seals the shell opening. Adults range from a few millimetres to over 30 cm (12 in) and exhibit diverse colours and patterns.

They inhabit all Red Sea benthic environments, from intertidal zones to deep reef slopes and sand flats, with most species found within recreational diving depths. Many prosobranchs crawl on a muscular foot, extending a pair of cephalic tentacles. Their diet is highly varied, including herbivores grazing on algae, detritivores, filter feeders, and predators that consume bivalves, echinoderms, sponges, or coelenterates. Some parasitic species have lost their shell and internal organs.


## Species (4)

- [Conus geographus (Conus geographus)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/invertebrate/molluscs/prosobranchia/conus-geographus)
- [Panther Cowry (Cypraea pantherina)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/invertebrate/molluscs/prosobranchia/panther-cowry)
- [Ramose Murex (Chicoreus ramosus)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/invertebrate/molluscs/prosobranchia/ramose-murex)
- [Triton's trumpet (Charonia tritonis)](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/invertebrate/molluscs/prosobranchia/tritons-trumpet)

---

*Source: [Red Sea Creatures](https://redseacreatures.com/taxon/invertebrate/molluscs/prosobranchia)*
*Updated: August 3, 2026*