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Cerithiidae

(Family)

Overview

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Cerithiidae, common name the cerithiids or ceriths, is a large family of medium-sized marine gastropods in the clade Sorbeoconcha.

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Ceriths are found worldwide on sandy bottoms, reef flats or coral reef rock covered with sand and algae in the sublittoral zone of warm or temperate waters. Most are found in tropical areas. A few occur along the European coastline and about 30 species in two genera are found along the American[ambiguous] coast. A few species occur in estuarine areas of mangrove forests close to the sea. Only a few species of the subfamily Bittiinae are found in deep water.

Diet

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Ceriths are herbivores and detrivores that graze the sea bed.

Description

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Their sle nder shell is elongated with a pointed spire. They vary in size from 3 mm (Bittium alternatum) to 150 mm (Cerithium nodulosum). The smallest shells are found in the subfamily Bittiinae.

The many whorls have radial sculpture with axial ridges and nodules. The aperture shows at its base a vague curve or a distinct siphonal canal. The aperture is closed off by a thin oval brown operculum that is corneous and paucispiral. The palatal wall of the aperture is somewhat enlarged and often shows a varix.

The taenioglossan radula has seven teeth in each row. The single rachidian tooth is flanked on each side by one rhomboidal lateral tooth and two long, hook-like marginal teeth.

Subfamilies

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The following three subfamilies have been recognized in the taxonomy of Bouchet & Rocroi (2005):[3]

Bandel (2006)[5] used different classification: Bittiinae on its own family level named Diastomatidae (overview of WoRMS).

Some authors classify Argyropezinae Bandel, 2006 as a synonym of Bittiinae.[6]

Genera

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Genera within the family Cerithiidae include:

Alabininae

Bittiinae

Cerithiinae

subfamily ?[7][8][9]

ference">[3]
  • Rhinoclavis Swainson, 1840[3] - synonyms: Clava Fabricius, 1823; Ochetoclava Woodring, 1928; Proclava Thiele, 1929; Vertagus Iredale, 1931

    • subfamily ?[7][8][9]

    References

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    1. ^ Fleming, John (1822). The philosophy of zoology 2: 491.
    2. ^ a b Strong E. E., Colgan D. J., Healy J. M., Lydeard C., Ponder W. F. & Glaubrecht M. (2011). "Phylogeny of the gastropod superfamily Cerithi?oidea using morphology and molecules". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 162(1): 43-89. doi:10.1111/j.1096-3642.2010.00670.x.
    3. ^ a b c d e f Bouchet P., Rocroi J.-P., Fr?da J., Hausdorf B., Ponder W., Vald?s ?. & War?n A. (2005). "Classification and nomenclator of gastropod families". Malacologia: International Journal of Malacology (Hackenheim, Germany: ConchBooks) 47 (1-2): 1?397. ISBN 3925919724. ISSN 0076-2997. http://www.archive.org/details/malacologia47122005inst. 
    4. ^ Cossmann (1906). Essais de pal?oconchologie compar?e 7: 64, 137.
    5. ^ Bandel K. (2006). "Families of the Cerithioidea and related superfamilies (Palaeo-Caenogastropoda; Mollusca) from the Triassic to the Recent characterized by protoconch morphology - including the description of new taxa". Freiberger Forschungshefte C 511: 59-138. PDF.
    6. ^ Gofas, S. (2011). Bittiinae. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=411649 on 2011-06-26
    7. ^ "Cerithiidae". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=71975. 
    8. ^ Shells Tricity
    9. ^ GBIF

    External links

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    Taxonomy

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    The Family Cerithiidae is a member of the Superfamily Cerithioidea. Here is the complete "parentage" of Cerithiidae:

    The Family Cerithiidae is further organized into finer groupings including:

    Genera

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    Aluco

    [more]

    Argyropeza

    Argyropeza is a genus of small deep-sea sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the family Procerithiidae. [more]

    Bittiolum

    [more]

    Bittium

    [more]

    Cacozeliana

    [more]

    Cassiella

    [more]

    Cerithioclava

    [more]

    Cerithium

    [more]

    Clypeomorus

    [more]

    Colina

    [more]

    Contumax

    Cryptaulax

    [more]

    Exelissa

    Fastigiella

    Glyptozaria

    Gourmya

    [more]

    Ischnocerithium

    [more]

    Ittibittium

    Liocerithium

    Lirobittium

    [more]

    Occidentocerithium

    Plesiotrochus

    [more]

    Procerithium

    [more]

    Pseudovertagus

    [more]

    Rhinoclavis

    [more]

    Rhynchocerithium

    Schroederium

    Semivertagus

    Stylidium

    Stylidium (also known as triggerplants or trigger plants) is a genus of dicotyledonous plants that belong to the family Stylidiaceae. The genus name Stylidium is derived from the Greek st???? or stylos (column or pillar), which refers to the distinctive reproductive structure that its flowers possess. Pollination is achieved through the use of the sensitive "trigger", which comprises the male and female reproductive organs fused into a floral column that snaps forward quickly in response to touch, harmlessly covering the insect in pollen. Most of the approximately 300 species are only found in Australia, making it the fifth largest genus in that country. Triggerplants are considered to be protocarnivorous or carnivorous because the glandular trichomes that cover the scape and flower can trap, kill, and digest small insects with protease enzymes produced by the plant. [more]

    Styliferina

    [more]

    Taxonia

    Thericium

    Trochocerithium

    Varicopeza

    [more]

    Zebittium

    Bittium is a genus of very small sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the family Cerithiidae, the horn snails. [more]

    At least 3 species and subspecies belong to the Genus Zebittium.

    More info about the Genus Zebittium may be found here.

    References

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    1. ^ Fleming, John (1822). The philosophy of zoology 2: 491.
    2. ^ a b Strong E. E., Colgan D. J., Healy J. M., Lydeard C., Ponder W. F. & Glaubrecht M. (2011). "Phylogeny of the gastropod superfamily Cerithi?oidea using morphology and molecules". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 162(1): 43-89. doi:10.1111/j.1096-3642.2010.00670.x.
    3. ^ a b c d e f Bouchet P., Rocroi J.-P., Fr?da J., Hausdorf B., Ponder W., Vald?s ?. & War?n A. (2005). "Classification and nomenclator of gastropod families". Malacologia: International Journal of Malacology (Hackenheim, Germany: ConchBooks) 47 (1-2): 1?397. ISBN 3925919724. ISSN 0076-2997. http://www.archive.org/details/malacologia47122005inst. 
    4. ^ Cossmann (1906). Essais de pal?oconchologie compar?e 7: 64, 137.
    5. ^< /a> Bandel K. (2006). "Families of the Cerithioidea and related superfamilies (Palaeo-Caenogastropoda; Mollusca) from the Triassic to the Recent characterized by protoconch morphology - including the description of new taxa". Freiberger Forschungshefte C 511: 59-138. PDF.
    6. ^ Gofas, S. (2011). Bittiinae. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=411649 on 2011-06-26
    7. ^ "Cerithiidae". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=71975. 
    8. ^ Shells Tricity
    9. ^ GBIF

    Sources

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    Last Revised: August 24, 2012
    2012/08/24 13:27:49