Muricidae: Difference between revisions
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'''Muricidae''', [[common name]] murex snails |
'''Muricidae''', [[common name]] murex snails, is a large and varied [[taxonomic]] [[family (biology)|family]] of small to large [[predatory]] sea [[snail]]s within the [[gastropod]] [[superfamily]] [[Muricoidea]] in the infraorder [[Neogastropoda]]. |
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At least 1,000 species of muricids are known, and there are numerous subfamilies. |
At least 1,000 species of muricids are known, and there are numerous subfamilies. |
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Revision as of 10:17, 6 January 2008
| Muricidae | |
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| Chicoreus palmarosae | |
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| Family: | Muricidae |
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See text. | |
Muricidae, common name murex snails, is a large and varied taxonomic family of small to large predatory sea snails within the gastropod superfamily Muricoidea in the infraorder Neogastropoda.
At least 1,000 species of muricids are known, and there are numerous subfamilies.
(Note: Gastropod taxonomy has been in flux for more than half a century, and this is especially true currently, because of new research in molecular phylogeny. Because of all the on-going changes, different reliable sources can yield very different classifications.)
Many muricids have unusual shells which are considered attractive by shell collectors and interior designers.
Shell description
The spire and body whorl of muricids is often ornamented with knobs, tubercules, ribbing or spines.
Many muricids have episodic growth, which means that the shell grows in spurts, remaining the same size for a while (during which time the varix develops) before rapidly growing to the next size stage. The result is a series of varices on each whorl.
Life habits
Most species of muricids are carnivorous, feeding on other gastropods, on bivalves, and on barnacles.
The fossil record
The family Muricidae first appears in the fossil record during the Aptian age of the Cretaceous period.
Subfamilies within the family Muricidae
- Ergalataxinae
- Haustrinae
- Muricinae
- Muricopsinae
- Ocenebrinae
- Rapaninae (=Thaidinae)
- Tripterotyphinae
- Trophoninae
- Typhinae
References
- Rosenberg, Gary (1992) The Encyclopedia of Seashells. New York: Dorset Press.
- Vaught, K.C. (1989) A Classification of the Living Mollusca. American Malacologists, Inc., Melbourne, Florida.
External links
