Scissurellidae

Scissurellidae
Temporal range: Upper Cretaceous–Recent
Shell of Scissurella costata
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Vetigastropoda
Order: Lepetellida
Superfamily: Scissurelloidea
Family: Scissurellidae
Gray, 1847

Scissurellidae, sometimes known by the common name little slit snails, are a taxonomic family of minute sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs or micromolluscs in the clade Vetigastropoda (according to the taxonomy of the Gastropoda by Bouchet & Rocroi, 2005).[1]

The shells of these snails vary in adult size from less than 6 mm to less than 1 mm.

Distribution

Scissurellids occur world-wide, from the intertidal zone down to the abyssal depths, including around hydrothermal vents.

Taxonomy

There are about 169 living described species of Scissurellidae, but the diversity of scissurellids is still far from being completely assessed (approximately 60 collected species await description).[2] The monophyly of the family is questionable.[3]

In 2003, there were about twenty-five genera divided into five subfamilies (Scissurellinae, Anatominae, Sutilizoninae, Temnocinclinae, Larocheinae) .[4] Three of these subfamilies were later updated to family level.

According to the taxonomy of the Gastropoda by Bouchet & Rocroi, 2005), this family consisted of the two following subfamilies :

  • Scissurellinae Gray, 1847 - synonym: Depressizoninae Geiger, 2003; now accepted with family rank Scissurellidae.
  • Larocheinae Finlay, 1927: now elevated to family rank as Larocheidae.

However Geiger (2009)[5] elevated Depressizoninae to the family rank as Depressizonidae.

Genera

Genera in the family Scissurellidae include:[6][7][8][9]

Genera brought into synonymy
  • Ariella Bandel, 1998: synonym of Sinezona Finlay, 1926
  • Daizona Bandel, 1998: synonym of Sinezona Finlay, 1926
  • Maxwellella Bandel, 1998: synonym of Scissurella d'Orbigny, 1824
  • † Praescissurella Lozouet, 1998: synonym of Scissurella d'Orbigny, 1824
  • † Reussella Bandel, 1998: synonym of Scissurella d'Orbigny, 1824
  • Schismope Jeffreys, 1856: synonym of Scissurella d'Orbigny, 1824
  • Scissurona Iredale, 1824: synonym of Incisura Hedley, 1904
  • Temnocinclis - in its own family Sutilizonidae
  • Temnozaga - in its own family Sutilizonidae
  • Woodwardia Crosse & P. Fischer, 1861: synonym of Scissurella d'Orbigny, 1824

References

  1. ^ Bouchet, P. (2011). Scissurellidae. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=1730 on 2011-05-08
  2. ^ Geiger D. L. (2006). "Eight new species of Scissurellidae and Anatomidae (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Vetigastropoda) from around the world, with discussion of two new senior synonyms". Zootaxa 1128: 1–33. PDF.
  3. ^ Geiger D. L. & Jansen P. (2004). "New species of Australian Scissurellidae (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Vetigastropoda) with remarks on Australian and Indo-Malayan species". Zootaxa 714: 1–72. abstract.
  4. ^ Geiger D. L. (2003). "Phylogenetic assessment of characters proposed for the generic classification of Recent Scissurellidae (Gastropoda: Vetigastropoda) with a description of one new genus and six new species from Easter Island and Australia". Molluscan Research 23(1): 21-83. doi:10.1071/MR02017, abstract. PDF.
  5. ^ Geiger D. L.(8 May 2009) "A new species of Depressizona and the family rank of Depressizonidae". Zootaxa 2059: 57-59. abstract, full article.
  6. ^ "Scissurellidae". Integrated Taxonomic Information System.
  7. ^ Powell A. W. B., New Zealand Mollusca, William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1979 ISBN 0-00-216906-1
  8. ^ Seashells of NSW
  9. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 10 February 2012. Retrieved 31 January 2008.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  10. ^ A. Nützel and D. L. Geiger. 2006. A new scissurelloid genus and species (Mollusca, Gastropoda) from the Late Triassic Cassian Formation. Paläontologische Zeitschrift 80(3):277-283
  • Geiger D.L. (2003). Phylogenetic assessment of characters proposed for the generic classification of Recent Scissurellidae (Gastropoda: Vetigastropoda) with a description of one new genus and six new species frop Easter Island and Australia. Molluscan Research 23:21-83
  • Geiger D.L. (2012) Monograph of the little slit shells. Volume 1. Introduction, Scissurellidae. pp. 1–728. Volume 2. Anatomidae, Larocheidae, Depressizonidae, Sutilizonidae, Temnocinclidae. pp. 729–1291. Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Monographs Number 7.

Further reading