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Nassariidae

(Family)

Overview

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Nassariidae, common name nassa mud snails (USA), or dog whelks (UK), are a taxonomic family of small to medium-sized sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the clade Neogastropoda.

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These snails have rounded shells with a high spire, an oval aperture, and a siphonal notch.

Distribution

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This family of snails is found worldwide.

Habitat

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These snails are found mostly in shallow water, on sandy or muddy substrates, often intertidally, but sometimes in deep water. They can be present in very large numbers in suitable habitat.

Feeding habits

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Nassariidae are primarily active and lively scavengers.

Taxonomy

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The family Nassariidae is closely related to the family of the true whelks, Buccinidae, because of their shared characteristics in the anatomy of the species in these families (Ponder, 1973 [1]; Cernohorsky, 1984 [2];Hayashi, 2005 [3]), i.e. a long proboscis, the loss of glandular dorsal folds and a smaller gland of Leiblein (a dorsal venom gland in the mid-oesophagus).

According to the taxonomy of the Gastropoda by Bouchet & Rocroi (2005) the family Nassariidae consists of four subfamilies:

Genera

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Genera within the family Nassariidae include:[5][6]

Bullinae
Cylleninae
Dorsaninae
Subfamily ?
ellardi, 1882
  • Dorsaninae Cossmann, 1901 - synonym: Duplicatinae Muskhelishvili, 1967

    • Genera

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    Genera within the family Nassariidae include:[5][6]

    Bullinae
    Cylleninae
    Dorsaninae
    Subfamily ?

    References

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    1. ^ The origin and evolution of the Neogastropoda.Malacologia. 1973;12(2):295-338.
    2. ^ Systematics of the family Nassariidae (Mollusca: Gastropoda), Bulletin of the Auckland Institute and Museum, 14, 356 p
    3. ^ The molecular phylogeny of the Buccinidae(Caenogastropo da: Neogastropoda) as inferred from the complete mitochondrial 16 S rRNA gene sequences of selected representatives, Molluscan Research 25 (2), pp. 85-98
    4. ^ Haitao Li (???), Duan Lin (??), Hongda Fang (???), Aijia Zhu (???) and Yang Gao (??), Species identification and phylogenetic analysis of genus Nassarius (Nassariidae) based on mitochondrial genes , Chinese Journal of Oceanology and Limnology, Volume 28, Number 3 / May, 2010, pp. 565-572, doi 10.1007/s00343-010-9031-4
    5. ^ "Nassariidae". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=74102. 
    6. ^ Powell A W B, New Zealand Mollusca, William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1979 ISBN 0-00-216906-1

    External links

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    Taxonomy

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    The Family Nassariidae is a member of the Superfamily Buccinoidea. Here is the complete "parentage" of Nassariidae:

    The Family Nassariidae is further organized into finer groupings including:

    Genera

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    Alectrion

    [more]

    Amyclina

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    Ancillopsis

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    Arcularia

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    Buccinanops

    [more]

    Bullia

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    Cyclonassa

    Cyclope

    [more]

    Cyllene

    There are several places on the peninsula in Greece named Kyllíni (classically transliterated as Cyllene or Kyllênê -- in Greek: ???????): [more]

    Demoulia

    [more]

    Dorsanum

    [more]

    Hebra

    A zebroid (also zebra mule and zebrule) is the offspring of any cross between a and any other equine: essentially, a zebra hybrid. In most cases, the sire is a zebra stallion. Offspring of a donkey sire and zebra mare, called a zebra hinny, do exist but are rare. Zebroids have been bred since the 19th century. The extinct quagga was also crossed with horses and donkeys. Charles Darwin noted several zebra hybrids in his works. [more]

    Hima

    Hinia

    Ilyanassa

    [more]

    Keepingia

    Metanachis

    [more]

    Microcithara

    [more]

    Nassa

    A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia. [more]

    Nassarius

    Nassarius, common name nassa mud snails (USA) or dog whelks (UK), is a genus of minute to medium-sized sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the family Nassariidae. They are scavengers. [more]

    Niotha

    [more]

    Pliarcularia

    [more]

    Reticunassa

    Sphaeronassa

    [more]

    Telasco

    [more]

    Varicinassa

    [more]

    Zeuxis

    A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia. [more]

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

    More info about the Genus Zeuxis may be found here.

    References

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    1. ^ The origin and evolution of the Neogastropoda.Malacologia. 1973;12(2):295-338.
    2. ^ Systematics of the family Nassariidae (Mollusca: Gastropoda), Bulletin of the Auckland Institute and Museum, 14, 356 p
    3. ^ The molecular phylogeny of the Buccinidae(Caenogastropoda: Neogastropoda) as inferred from the complete mitochondrial 16 S rRNA gene sequences of selected representatives, Molluscan Research 25 (2), pp. 85-98
    4. ^ Haitao Li (???), Duan Lin (??), Hongda Fang (???), Aijia Zhu (???) and Yang Gao (??), Species identification and phylogenetic analysis of genus Nassarius (Nas sariidae) based on mitochondrial genes , Chinese Journal of Oceanology and Limnology, Volume 28, Number 3 / May, 2010, pp. 565-572, doi 10.1007/s00343-010-9031-4
    5. ^ "Nassariidae". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=74102. 
    6. ^ Powell A W B, New Zealand Mollusca, William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1979 ISBN 0-00-216906-1

    Sources

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    Last Revised: August 24, 2012
    2012/08/24 13:36:57