font settings

Font Size: Large | Normal | Small
Font Face: Verdana | Geneva | Georgia

Volutinae

(Subfamily)

Overview

[ Back to top ]

Volutidae, common name volutes, are a taxonomic family of predatory sea snails that range in size from 9 mm to over 500 mm, marine gastropod mollusks. Most of the species have no operculum.

This family of sea snails are found mainly in tropical seas, though some species also inhabit the waters of the polar circles.

Shell description

The shell of species such as Melo amphora can grow as large as 50 cm (19.7 inches) in length.[1]

Volutes are distinguished by their distinctively marked spiral shells (to which the family name refers, voluta meaning "scroll" in Latin).

The shells have an elongated aperture in their first whorl and an inner lip characterised by a number of deep plaits. The elaborate decorations of the shells has made them a popular collectors' item, with the imperial volute (Aulica imperialis) of the Philippines being particularly prized.

Taxonomy

Subfamilies and tribes

According to Bail & Poppe (2001)[2] Volutidae can be subdivided into the following Subfamilies and tribes:

Genera

Genera within the Volutidae include:

Apertural view of a shell of Scaphella junonia
Two views of a shell of Scaphella lamberti, and in the center, a cut-down shell showing the folds on the columella
e Amoriini Gray, 1857
  • Athletinae Pilsbry & Olsson, 1954
  • Calliotectinae Pilsbry & Olsson, 1954
  • Cymbiinae H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853
    • Tribe Adelomelonini Pilsbry & Olsson, 1954
    • Tribe Alcithoini Pilsbry & Olsson, 1954
    • Tribe Cymbiini H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853
    • Tribe Livoniini Bail & Poppe, 2001
    • Tribe Odontocymbiolini Clench & Turner, 1964
    • Tribe Zidonini H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853
  • Fulgorariinae Pilsbry & Olsson, 1954
  • Plicolivinae Bpichet, 1990
  • Scaphellinae Gray, 1857
  • Volutinae
    • Tribe Lyriini Pilsbry & Olsson, 1954
    • Tribe Volutini Rafinesque, 1815
  • Genera

    Genera within the Volutidae include:

    Apertural view of a shell of Scaphella junonia
    Two views of a shell of Scaphella lamberti, and in the center, a cut-down shell showing the folds on the columella

    References

    1. ^ Poutiers, J. M. (1998). Gastropods in: FAO Species Identification Guide for Fishery Purposes: The living marine resources of the Western Central Pacif ic Volume 1. Seaweeds, corals, bivalves and gastropods. Rome, FAO, 1998. page 597.
    2. ^ Bail, P. & Poppe, G. T. (2001). A taxonomic introduction to the recent Volutidae. In: Poppe, G. T. & Groh, K.: A Conchological Iconography. 30 pp., 5 plts. ConchBooks, Hackenheim, ISBN 3-925919-47-3.
    3. ^ Bail, P., Limpus, A. & Poppe, G. T. (2001): The Genus Amoria. In: Poppe, G. T. & Groh, K.: A Conchological Iconography. 50 pp., 93 plts. ConchBooks, Hackenheim, ISBN 3-925919-46-5.
    4. ^ Bail, P., Chino, M. & Terryn, Y. (2010). The Family Volutidae. The endemic Far East Asian subfamily Fulgorariinae Pilsbry & Olsson, 1954. A revision of the recent species. In: Poppe, G. T. & Groh, K.: A Conchological Iconography. 74 pp., 64 plts. ConchBooks, Hackenheim, ISBN 978-3-939767-31-2.

    Taxonomy

    [ Back to top ]

    The Subfamily Volutinae is a member of the Family Volutidae. Here is the complete "parentage" of Volutinae:

    The Subfamily Volutinae is further organized into finer groupings including:

    Genera

    [ Back to top ]

    Voluta

    A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia. [more]

    At least 143 species and subspecies belong to the Genus Voluta.

    More info about the Genus Voluta may be found here.

    References

    [ Back to top ]
    1. ^ Poutiers, J. M. (1998). Gastropods in: FAO Species Identification Guide for Fishery Purposes: The living marine resources of the Western Central Pacific Volume 1. Seaweeds, corals, bivalves and gastropods. Rome, FAO, 1998. page 597.
    2. ^ Bail, P. & Poppe, G. T. (2001). A taxonomic introduction to the recent Volutidae. In: Poppe, G. T. & Groh, K.: A Conchological Iconography. 30 pp., 5 plts. ConchBooks, Hackenheim, ISBN 3-925919-47-3.
    3. ^ Bail, P., Limpus, A. & Poppe, G. T. (2001): The Genus Amoria. In: Poppe, G. T. & Groh, K.: A Conchological Iconography. 50 pp., 93 plts. ConchBooks, Hackenheim, ISBN 3-925919-46-5.
    4. ^ Bail, P., Chino, M. & Terryn, Y. (2010). The Family Volutidae. The endemic Far East Asian subfamily Fulgorariinae Pilsbry & Olsson, 1954. A revision of the recent species. In: Poppe, G. T. & Groh, K.: A Conchological Iconography. 74 pp., 64 plts. ConchBooks, Hackenheim, ISBN 978-3-939767-31-2.

    Sources

    [ Back to top ]
    Last Revised: August 24, 2012
    2012/08/24 13:49:25