This spiral shaped shell, pointed at both ends, is ivory color and offset by brown or tan splotches. The less common True Tulip grows much larger to nine or ten inches in length. More than 15 faint brown lines circle the body whorl with rough sutures between whorls. Carnivorous in nature, these univalves prey on other mollusks by boring a hole through the shell of their prey using their radula. Tulips are also known to be cannibalistic.