Nassariidae
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 Nassarius tiarula
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Nassariidae, common name Nassa mud snails (USA), or dog whelks (UK), are a taxonomic family of small to medium-sized sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the order Sorbeoconcha.
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[edit] Distribution
This family of snails is found worldwide.
[edit] Habitat
These snails are found mostly in shallow water, on sandy or muddy substrates, often intertidally, but sometimes in deep water. They can be present in very large numbers in the right habitat.
[edit] Life habits
Nassariidae are primarily active and lively scavengers.
[edit] Shell description
These snails have rounded shells with a high spire, an oval aperture, and a siphonal notch. The broadly triangular operculum has spinose sides and a pointed terminal nucleus.
[edit] Genera within the family Nassariidae
- Alectrion
- Amyclina
- Arcularia
- Buccinanops
- Bullia
- Cyclonassa
- Cyclope
- Cyllene
- Demoulia
- Dorsanum
- Hinia
- Ilyanassa
- Monoptygma
- Nassarius Finlay,1927
- Neritula
- Niotha
- Pliarcularia
- Reticunassa
- Sphaeronassa
- Telasco
- Zeuxis
This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
[edit] References
- Nassariidae (TSN 74102). Integrated Taxonomic Information System.
- Powell A W B, New Zealand Mollusca, William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1979 ISBN 0-00-216906-1
