Overview
Calyptraeidae, common name the slipper snails or slipper limpets, cup-and-saucer snails, and Chinese hat snails are a family of small to medium-sized marine prosobranch gastropods. This family includes the slipper snails (Crepidula species), the Chinese hat snails, (Calyptraea species), and the cup-and-saucer snails (Crucibulum species) among others.
Calyptraeidae is the only family in the superfamily Calyptraeoidea.
This family has no subfamilies according to the taxonomy of the Gastropoda by Bouchet & Rocroi, 2005.
Internally, the shell is distinguished by a shelf-like, cup-like, or half-cup-like structure that is used for muscle attachment.
Some calyptraeids have shells that externally resemble those of limpets, and for this reason species in the genus Crepidula are often called slipper limpets. However, these snails are not closely related to true limpets and are more closely related to conches and cowries. The "slipper" in the name "slipper limpet" is based on the appearance of the inside of the shell, which with its half-shelf resembles a traditional western bedroom slipper.
Reproduction
Calyptraeids may form a tower of up to 25 animals, sometimes referred to as a mating chain. The bottom snail is always female. When she dies, the male above her will change from male to female, and the chain continues.[2]
Genera
Genera within the family Calyptraeidae in clude[3][4][5]:
- Bostrycapulus Olsson & Harbison, 1953
- Calyptraea Lamarck, 1799
- Cheila Modeer, 1793
- Crepidula Lamarck, 1799
- Crepipatella Lesson, 1831
- Crucibulum Schumacher, 1817
- Crypta Gray, 1847
- Ergea H. Adams & A. Adams, 1854
- Garnotia Gray, 1857
- Grandicrepidula McLean, 1995
- Maoricrypta Finlay, 1926
- Sigapatella Lesson, 1930
- Trochita Schumacher, 1817
- Zeacrypta Finlay, 1926 : synonym of Maoricrypta Finlay, 1926
- Zegalerus Finlay, 1927 : synonym of Sigapatella Lesson, 1831
Genera within the family Calyptraeidae include[3][4][5]:
- Bostrycapulus Olsson & Harbison, 1953
- Calyptraea Lamarck, 1799
- Cheila Modeer, 1793
- Crepidula Lamarck, 1799
- Crepipatella Lesson, 1831
- Crucibulum Schumacher, 1817
- Crypta Gray, 1847
- Ergea H. Adams & A. Adams, 1854
- Garnotia Gray, 1857
- Grandicrepidula McLean, 1995
- Maoricrypta Finlay, 1926
- Sigapatella Lesson, 1930
- Trochita Schumacher, 1817
- Zeacrypta Finlay, 1926 : synonym of Maoricrypta Finlay, 1926
- Zegalerus Finlay, 1927 : synonym of Sigapatella Lesson, 1831
References
- ^ Bouchet, P. & Rocroi, J.-P. (2005). "Classification and Nomenclator of Gastropod Families". Malacologia 47 (1-2).
- ^ "In Pictures: Strange seas". BBC News. 2010-01-19. http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_8466000/8466208.stm.
- ^ "Calyptraeidae". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=72611.
- ^ Powell A. W. B. (1979) New Zealand Mollusca. William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand, ISBN 0-00-216906-1.
- ^ Calyptraeidae[dead link] at gastropods.com