Marginellidae, or the margin shells, are a family of small, often colorful, marine gastropod molluscs.  The shells are highly glossy due the shell being covered by the mantle, and very popular with collectors.  There are approximately 550 species worldwide, the size of the shell ranging in size from 1mm to 150 mm in shell length. Most species are found in shallow, tropical, and temperate waters. The South African coastline has a high concentration of Marginellidae species.  Most Margin shells are smaller than 40mm, the two largest species, Afrivoluta pringlei (up to 130mm) and Marginellona gigas (up to 150mm)  are found in deep water and are allocated to their own unique Genus, and superficially appear more similar to Volutidae, but are not closely related.