Mitridae

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Mitridae
Fossil range: Upper Cretaceous to Present

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Gastropoda
Subclass:	Orthogastropoda
Superorder:	Caenogastropoda
Order:	Sorbeoconcha
Suborder:	Hypsogastropoda
Infraorder:	Neogastropoda
Superfamily:	Muricoidea
Family:	Mitridae Swainson, 1931

Genera

See text.

Mitridae, known as mitre shells, are a taxonomic family of sea snails, widely-distributed marine gastropod molluscs in the order Sorbeoconcha.

Both the Latin name and the common name are taken from the item of ecclesiastical headgear, the mitre or miter, used in reference to the shape of the shells.

The dentition of the Mitridae is rachiglossate, with well developed central and lateral teeth, both comb-like.

1 Distribution
2 Shell description
3 Subfamilies
4 Genera
5 References

[edit] Distribution

The miters are found in most warm and temperate seas.

[edit] Shell description

Shells of the Mitridae resemble shells of the Volutidae in having columellar plaits, but mitres are generally smaller, narrower and often more solid. All mitres studied have a poison gland, and no operculum.