Overview
The Terebridae, commonly referred to as auger shells or auger snails, are a group or taxonomic family of small to large predatory sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks.
These gastropods have extremely high spired shells with numerous whorls, and the common name refers to the resemblance of their shells to rock drill-type drill bits.
There are about 313 known species worldwide.2]
Taxonomy
This family consists of two following subfamilies (according to the taxonomy of the Gastropoda by Bouchet & Rocroi, 2005):
- Terebrinae M?rch, 1852 - synonyms: Acusidae; Acidae Gray, 1853 (inv.)
- Pervicaciinae Rudman, 1969
However, Terryn[2] states that the subfamily Pervicaciinae would historically include solely the genus Duplicaria (and the genus Pervicaria, now included in Euterebra). The other genera would belong to the subfamily Terebrinae. Since there is no clear division and currently no taxonomic need the two subfamilies are nowadays no longer accepted.[3][4]
Shell description
The shells of the sea snails in this family are typically shaped like slender augers or screws. In that respect they share certain shell characters with the family Turritellidae, the turret shells.
One characteristic that distinguishes Terebridae from Turritellidae is the short anterior canal or notch in the aperture of the shell. Terebridae shells also tend to have characteristically flattened versus convex whorls, and they often have one or two plaits on the columella.
Numerous species in this family are grouped und er either the Terebra or the Hastula genus, and a minority of species are placed in four other genera.
Life habits
These snails are sand-dwelling carnivores which live in warmer waters. In most species, a venomous barb similar to that of the cone snails, (see Conidae), is used to stun and immobilize prey, which typically consists of various marine worms.
Genera
Genera in the family Terebridae include:[2][5]
- Acus H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853 (synonym of Oxymeris)
- Cinguloterebra Oyama, 1961
- Clathroterebra Oyama, 1961
- Duplicaria Dall, 1908
- Euterebra Cotton & Godfrey, 1932
- Granuliterebra Oyama, 1961
- Hastula H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853
- Hastulopsis Oyama, 1961
- Impages E.A. Smith, 1873
- Myurella Hinds, 1844
- Oxymeris Dall, 1903
- Pellifronia Terryn & Holford, 2008
- Perirhoe Dall, 1908
- Pristiterebra Taki & Oyama, 1954
- Strioterebrum Sacco, 1891
- Terebra Brugui?re, 1789 - type genus
- Terenolla Iredale, 1929
- Terenolla pygmaea (Hinds, 1844)
Numerous species in this family are grouped under either the Terebra or the Hastula genus, and a minority of species are placed in four other genera.
Life habits
These snails are sand-dwelling carnivores which live in warmer waters. In most species, a venomous barb similar to that of the cone snails, (see Conidae), is used to stun and immobilize prey, which typically consists of various marine worms.
Genera
Genera in the family Terebridae include:[2][5]
- Acus H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853 (synonym of Oxymeris)
- Cinguloterebra Oyama, 1961
- Clathroterebra Oyama, 1961
- Duplicaria Dall, 1908
- Euterebra Cotton & Godfrey, 1932
- Granuliterebra Oyama, 1961
- Hastula H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853
- Hastulopsis Oyama, 1961
- Impages E.A. Smith, 1873
- Myurella Hinds, 1844
- Oxymeris Dall, 1903
- Pellifronia Terryn & Holford, 2008
- Perirhoe Dall, 1908
- Pristiterebra Taki & Oyama, 1954
- Strioterebrum Sacco, 1891
- Terebra Brugui?re, 1789 - type genus
- Terenolla Iredale, 1929
- Terenolla pygmaea (Hinds, 1844)
References
- ^ M?rch O. A. L. (1852). Catalo gus conchyliorum quae reliquit D. Alphonso d'Arguirra et Gadea Comes de Yoldi, (1): 74.
- ^ a b c d Terryn, Y. (2007): A Collectors Guide to Recent Terebridae (Mollusca: Neogastropoda). 57 pp., 65 color plts. ConchBooks & NaturalArt, Hackenheim & Gent, ISBN 978-3-939767-01-5.
- ^ WoRMS (2010). Terebrinae. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=411816 on 2011-04-01
- ^ WoRMS (2010). Pervicaciinae. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=411817 on 2011-04-01
- ^ Gofas, S. (2010). Terebridae. In: Bouchet, P.; Gofas, S.; Rosenberg, G. (2010) World Marine Mollusca database. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=160424 on 2010-04-01
Taxonomy
The Family Terebridae is a member of the Superfamily Conoidea. Here is the complete "parentage" of Terebridae:
- Domain: Eukaryota
Whittaker & Margulis,1978 - eukaryotes
- Kingdom: Animalia
C. Linnaeus, 1758 - animals
- Subkingdom: Bilateria
(Hatschek, 1888) Cavalier-Smith, 1983 - bilaterians
- Branch: Protostomia
Grobben, 1908 - protostomes
- Infrakingdom: Lophotrochozoa
- Lophotrochozoans
- Superphylum: Eutrochozoa
- Phylum: Mollusca
(C. Linnaeus, 1758) Cuvier, 1795 - Molluscs
- Class: Gastropoda
Cuvier, 1795 - Snails and Slugs
- Subclass: Orthogastropoda
Ponder & Lindberg, 1996
- Superorder: Caenogastropoda
Cox, 1960
- Order: Sorbeoconcha
Ponder & Lindberg, 1997
- Suborder: Hypsogastropoda
Ponder & Lindberg, 1997
- Infraorder: Neogastropoda
Thiele, 1929
- Superfamily: Conoidea
(ko-NOY-dee-a)
Fleming, 1822
- Family: Terebridae Mörch, 1852 - Auger Shells
- Superfamily: Conoidea
(ko-NOY-dee-a)
Fleming, 1822
- Infraorder: Neogastropoda
Thiele, 1929
- Suborder: Hypsogastropoda
Ponder & Lindberg, 1997
- Order: Sorbeoconcha
Ponder & Lindberg, 1997
- Superorder: Caenogastropoda
Cox, 1960
- Subclass: Orthogastropoda
Ponder & Lindberg, 1996
- Class: Gastropoda
Cuvier, 1795 - Snails and Slugs
- Phylum: Mollusca
(C. Linnaeus, 1758) Cuvier, 1795 - Molluscs
- Superphylum: Eutrochozoa
- Infrakingdom: Lophotrochozoa
- Lophotrochozoans
- Branch: Protostomia
Grobben, 1908 - protostomes
- Subkingdom: Bilateria
(Hatschek, 1888) Cavalier-Smith, 1983 - bilaterians
- Kingdom: Animalia
C. Linnaeus, 1758 - animals
The Family Terebridae is further organized into finer groupings including:
- Genus (22): Abretiella · Acuminia · Brevimyurella · Cinguloterebra · Dimidacus · Duplicaria · Granuliterebra · Hastula · Impages · Oxymeris · Pervicacia · Pristiterebra · Punctoterebra · Strioterebrum · Subula · Terebra · Terenolla · Thatcheriasyrinx · Toxiclionella · Triplostephanus · Tropidoturris · Zemacies
- Species: ZipcodeZoo has pages for 524 species and subspecies in the Family Terebridae.
Genera
Abretiella
Acuminia
Brevimyurella
Cinguloterebra
Dimidacus
Duplicaria
Duplicaria may refer to: [more]
Granuliterebra
Hastula
Impages
Oxymeris
Pervicacia
Pristiterebra
Pristiterebra is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Terebridae, the auger snails. [more]
Punctoterebra
Strioterebrum
Subula
Terebra
Terebra is a genus of medium-sized, predatory sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Terebridae, the auger snails. [more]
Terenolla
Thatcheriasyrinx
Toxiclionella
Triplostephanus
Tropidoturris
Zemacies
At least 4 species and subspecies belong to the Genus Zemacies.
More info about the Genus Zemacies may be found here.
References
- ^ M?rch O. A. L. (1852). Catalogus conchyliorum quae reliquit D. Alphonso d'Arguirra et Gadea Comes de Yoldi, (1): 74.
- ^ a b c d Terryn, Y. (2007): A Collectors Guide to Recent Terebridae (Mollusca: Neogastropoda). 57 pp., 65 color plts. ConchBooks & NaturalArt, Hackenheim & Gent, ISBN 978-3-939767-01-5.
- ^ WoRMS (2010). Terebrinae. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetai ls&id=411816 on 2011-04-01
- ^ WoRMS (2010). Pervicaciinae. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=411817 on 2011-04-01
- ^ Gofas, S. (2010). Terebridae. In: Bouchet, P.; Gofas, S.; Rosenberg, G. (2010) World Marine Mollusca database. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=160424 on 2010-04-01
Further Reading
- Terryn Y. & Holford M. (2008). "The Terebridae of Vanuatu, with a revision of the genus Granuliterebra Oyama, 1961". Visaya Supplement 3 (Malacological Journal of Conchology, Inc., Cebu, Philippines).
External links
Sources
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