[1] E. tulipa is a marine gastropod species of the family Vermetidae, commonly known as "worm snails" due to the tube shape of their shells.
This produces a large morphological plasticity in the adults There are reports of this species at several localities in Panama Bay, including the boulder reef at Vera Cruz, Veraguas Province, both in the east Pacific Ocean.
In these Hawaiian localities, individuals are mainly found attached to artificial substrates such as concrete pilings and walls, metal and wood substrates but also in natural environments such as reefs and mangrove roots.
has been observed since at least 1986 in the central west coast near Puerto Cabello colonizing the walls of the intake-cooling sea water channel of a thermoelectric power plant.
This species has also been observed at other two localities within the area colonizing other artificial substrates: the first is on the concrete pilings at the deck of El Palito oil refinery, and the other is on the metal remains of a ship wreck.