Turritellidae
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 Turritella communis Risso, 1826
an adult fossil specimen from a deep borehole in the Netherlands. |
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See text. |
Turritellidae, the tower shells, is a taxonomic family of small to medium-sized sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the order Sorbeoconcha.
These snails are filter feeders which is somewhat unusual among gastropod mollusks, but is a method of feeding which is very common in bivalves.
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[edit] Shell description
The shells of species in this family are very tall, narrowly tapered, many whorled, without a siphonal canal or a notch. The whorls are more convex and the aperture is more circular than auger shells. The outer lip is thin, and usually has a broad median indentation or sinus, variable in depth, according to the genus. The columella is curved and the thin operculum is horny.
[edit] Anatomy of the soft parts
The gill filters minute detrital material from the inhalant water current, while the turret shell burrows into mud or sand. The mantle entry has fringing tentacles, and the outer edge of the operculum bears minute bristles, both designed to sift out excessive sediment, and allow only the smallest food particles through. The foot is relatively small.
[edit] Genera within the family Turritellidae
- Maoricolpus Finlay, 1927
- Tachyrhynchus Morch, 1868
- Turritella Lamarck, 1799
- Vermicularia Lamarck, 1799
- Zeacolpus Finlay, 1927
[edit] Palaeontological locations
- The Turritellenplatte of Ermingen ("Erminger Turritellenplatte" near Ulm, Germany) is situated in the northern part of the North Alpine Foreland Basin (NAFB) and is famous for its abundance of Turritella turris gastropod shells within sediments. The fauna of this gastropod-rich sandstone reflects mainly near-coastal and shallow marine conditions.[1] Petrographical and palaeontological data allow a correlation of Turritellenplatte of Ermingen with Burdigalian (Lower Miocene). Sr-isotope composition of shark teeth suggests an age of about 18,5 Ma for the Turritellenplatte of Ermingen.[2]
[edit] References
- Mayr, Helmut. A Guide to Fossils. Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey, USA. 1985 (English translation 1992).
- Turritellidae (TSN 71292). Integrated Taxonomic Information System.
- Powell A. W. B., New Zealand Mollusca, William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1979 ISBN 0-00-216906-1
- ^ J. Baier: Über die Tertiärbildungen im Ulmer Raum - Documenta Naturae, 168, 1-32; München, 2008. ISBN 978-3-86544-168-3
- ^ J. Baier: Ein Beitrag zur Erminger Turritellenplatte (Mittlere Schwäbische Alb, SW-Deutschland). - Jahresbericht Mitt. oberrhein. geol. Ver., N.F. 90, 9-17; Stuttgart, 2008. ISSN 0078-2947
[edit] External links
- Selachian fauna of Turritellenplatte: Abstract of Baier et al. 2004
- Age and Sedimentpetrography of Turritellenplatte: Abstract of Baier 2008
