Topaginella

Topaginella
Temporal range: Miocene
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
(unranked): clade Caenogastropoda
clade Hypsogastropoda
clade Neogastropoda
Superfamily: Muricoidea
Family: Cystiscidae
Subfamily: Cystiscinae
Genus: Topaginella
Laseron, 1957

Topaginella is a genus of minute fossil sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Cystiscidae. Like all of the related genera, this are sometimes still classified in the family Marginellidae.

This genus is extinct.

Contents

Shell description

Shell minute, pyriform, strongly narrowed anteriorly; spire low; lip thickned, strongly denticulate; external varix probably absent (needs to be confirmed); distinct axial costae present; siphonal notch absent; columella multiplicate, with combined total of usually 8 plications plus parietal lirae.

Type species

The type species of the genus Topaginella is Marginela octoplicata Tenison Woods, 1877 †; OD (M)

Remarks: The type species seems to be unique (a monotypic genus). The multiplicate columella and lack of a siphonal notch place it near Cystiscus, but the pyriform shape, exserted spire, denticulate lip, and fine axial costae render it distinct.

Fossil record

This genus is known from the Miocene of Australia.

References