Gastropod Fossils from Paracas Desert, Peru - stock photo

Turritella Gastropod Fossils from the Cretaceous Period (circa 145 to 66 million years ago) can be found in the Paracas National Reserve in the Ica Region of Peru. Turritella is a genus of medium-sized sea snails with an operculum, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Turritellidae. They have tightly coiled shells, whose overall shape is basically that of an elongated cone. The name Turritella comes from the Latin word turritus meaning "turreted" or "towered" and the diminutive suffix -ella. These millions of years old fossils can be found on the surface of the desert.