top-shells a group of single shells so called because in shape they resemble spinning tops. Trochus niloticus maximus, a large SE Asian species, is familiar because its large shells (30 cm/1') are used for ornamental purposes. They are black and white, but successive polishings produce a reddish hue and then a pearly finish. In Burma the shells are thought to resemble a kind of pagoda dome, so the last part of the Burmese name, kha-yu-zedi, means shrine.
Top-shells are boiled to permit extraction of the meat, which can then be fried or used in curries or soups. It can also be dried, and a product described as ‘canned top-shell’ is exported from China.
