Turbonillinae

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Turbonillinae
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Mollusca Class: Gastropoda Subclass: Orthogastropoda Order: Heterostropha Superfamily: Pyramidelloidea Family: Pyramidellidae Subfamily: Turbonillinae H.G. Bronn, 1849
Genera
See text.
Synonyms
Chemniziidae Stoliczka, 1868

Turbonillinae is a subfamily of mostly minute parasitic sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the family Pyramidellidae, the pyrams and their allies.

Contents 1 Taxonomy 2 Genera within the subfamily Turbonillinae 3 Problematic genera within the family Turbonillidae 4 Distribution 5 Shell description 6 Life habits 7 References

[edit] Taxonomy

The overall taxonomy of the group is generally agreed on, but the relative Linnéan ranks are still a matter of discussion.

This is one of eleven recognised subfamilies in the family Pyramidellidae (according to the taxonomy of Ponder & Lindberg, 1997).

In the taxonomy of Schander, Van Aartsen & Corgan (1999) it is a part of the family Turbonillidae.

• Family Turbonillidae Bronn, 1849
  • Subfamily Turbonillinae Bronn, 1849
  • Subfamily Cingulininae Saurin, 1958
  • Subfamily Eulimellinae Saurin, 1958

In the taxonomy of Bouchet & Rocroi (2005), this subfamily comprises the subfamilies Cingulininae and Eulimellinae, that have been downgraded to the rank of tribe.

• Subfamily Turbonillinae Bronn, 1849
  • Tribe Turbonillini Bronn, 1849
  • Tribe Cingulinini Saurin, 1958
  • Tribe Eulimellini Saurin, 1958

According to Schander, Van Aartsen & Corgan (1999) there are 27 genera within the Turbonillinae.

[edit] Genera within the subfamily Turbonillinae

• Turbonilla Risso, 1826 (Type genus)
• Amamimormula Kuroda, 1928
• Asmunda Dall & Bartsch, 1904
• Bartschella Iredale, 1916
• Baldra Dall & Bartsch, 1904
• Cylindroturbonilla Nordsieck, 1972
• Exesilla Laseron, 1959
• Gispyrella Laws, 1937
• Graciliturbonilla Nordsieck, 1972
• Houbrickia Wise, 1996
• Lancea Peace, 1868
• Magniturbonilla Nordsieck, 1972
• Mormula A. Adams, 1863
• Nisiturris Dall & Bartsch, 1906
• Paramormula Nomura, 1939
• Paraturbonilla Boettger, 1906
• Planpyrgiscus Laws, 1937
• Pselliogyra Dall & Bartsch, 1909
• Pyrgiscilla Laws, 1937
• Pyrgiscus Philippi, 1841
• Pyrgolampros Sacco, 1892
• Pyrgolidium Monterosato, 1884
• Striarcana Laws, 1937
• Sulcoturbonilla Sacco, 1892
• Tereoturbonilla Eames, 1951
• Zaphella Laseron, 1959

[edit] Problematic genera within the family Turbonillidae

The following genera are currently difficult to place within the family Turbonillidae (=Turbonillinae + Cingulininae + Eulimellinae)

• Atomiscala DeBoury, 1909
• Hamarilla Eames & Wilkins, 1957
• Pseudographis Mifsud, 1998
• Rissopsetia Dell, 1956

[edit] Distribution

This family is found worldwide.

[edit] Shell description

The shell of these snails has a blunt, heterostrophic protoconch, which is pointed sideways. The shell of most species are rather high and slender.

The texture of these shells is usually ribbed sculptured in various forms and often also have more or less prominent spirals. Their color is mostly white, cream or yellowish, sometimes with red or brown lines.

The adult shell, the teleoconch is dextrally coiled, but the larval shells are sinistral. This results in a sinistrally coiled protoconch. The opening of the shell, the aperture is closed by a lid, a so called operculum.

[edit] Life habits

The Turbonillinae are ectoparasites, feeding mainly on other molluscs and on annelid worms.

They do not have a radula. Instead their long proboscis is used to pierce the skin of its prey and suck up its fluids and soft tissues. The eyes on the grooved tentacles are situated toward the base of the tentacles. Between the head and the foot, a lobed process called the mentum ( = thin projection) is visible.

These molluscs are hermaphrodites.

[edit] References

• Bouchet, P. & Rocroi, J.-P. (2005). "Classification and Nomenclator of Gastropod Families". Malacologia 47 (1-2): 1–397. 
• Ponder, W.F. & Lindberg, D. R. (1997). "Towards a phylogeny of gastropod molluscs: an analysis using morphological characters". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 119: 88–265. 
• Schander, C., van Aartsen, J. J., Corgan, J. C. (1999). "Families and genera of the Pyramidelloidea (Mollusca: Gastropoda)". Bollettino Malacologico 34 (9-12): 145–166.