Polemicella

Polemicella is a small genus of very small sea snails, pyramidellid gastropod mollusks or micromollusks. This genus is currently placed in the subfamily Chrysallidinae of the family Odostomiidae.

Shell description

The original description by Laseron (1959) (in French) states that the genus was introduced for forms of the near Pyrgulina polemica: short shell with graduated, streamlined or angled whorls on the periphery. It is sculpted with axial ribs and with a single spiral on periphery. There is sometimes a spiral towards the summit of the whorls. Pyrgulina mellvilli is also a representative typical of this genus.

Life history

Nothing is known about the biology of the members of this genus. As is true of most members of the Pyramidellidae sensu lato, they are most likely to be ectoparasites.

Species

Species within the genus Polemicella include:

• Polemicella polemica (Melvill, 1910) (Type species) (as Pyrgulina polemica)
• Polemicella aartseni Robba, Di Geronimo, Chaimanee, Negri & Sanfilippo, 2003
• Polemicella piscatorum Saurin, 1959
• Polemicella saurini Robba, Di Geronimo, Chaimanee, Negri & Sanfilippo, 2003

References

• Saurin, E. (1959). "Pyramidellidae de Nha-Trang (Vietnam)". Annales Faculte des Sciences Saigon 1959: 223–283, pl. 1–6.