Conorbidae
Encyclopedia
Conorbidae is a monophyletic family
of small to medium-sized sea snail
s, marine
gastropod mollusks in the superfamily Conoidea
.
In 2009, John K. Tucker and Manuel J. Tenorio elevated the subfamily Conorbiinae
(at that point it was placed in the family Conidae) to the rank of family. This was based on a cladistical analysis of anatomical characters including the radular tooth
, morphology
(i.e. shell characters), as well as an analysis of prior molecular phylogeny
studies, all of which was used to construct phylogenetic trees. Tucker and Tenorio noted a close relationship to genera such as Bathytoma in their phylogeny, which corresponded to prior molecular studies by Puillandre et al.. Shortly thereafter, in 2011, Bouchet
, Kantor et al. confirmed the elevation of the subfamily Conorbiinae
to the rank of family based upon a detailed molecular phylogeny
of a dataset of molecular sequences of three gene
(DNA) fragments conducted across the superfamily Conoidea
.
Like other species in the superfamily Conoidea these snails are predatory and venomous, able to inject neurotoxins into their prey with their radula
. They are capable of "stinging" humans, therefore live ones should be handled carefully or not at all.
, including the columellar region, is substantially remodeled (meaning that the external sculpture is reabsorbed when the body whorl grows over it). Two of the three genera in this family have an asymmertical anal notch. The spire
in the fossil genus Conorbis
is much elevated. Its outer lip is sinuous, forming an oblique posterior sinus.
The living species of this family possess several primitive radular
characteristics; they do not have the folds which are present in all other closely related families. The radula usually has an anterior fold, without a waist, base, C-fold, terminating cusps, serrations or accessory process. The basal spur is either parallel with the tooth base or directed towards the apex of the tooth.
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
of small to medium-sized sea snail
Sea snail
Sea snail is a common name for those snails that normally live in saltwater, marine gastropod molluscs....
s, marine
Marine (ocean)
Marine is an umbrella term. As an adjective it is usually applicable to things relating to the sea or ocean, such as marine biology, marine ecology and marine geology...
gastropod mollusks in the superfamily Conoidea
Conoidea
Conoidea is a superfamily of predatory sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks within the suborder Hypsogastropoda. This superfamily is a very large group of marine mollusks, estimated at about 340 recent valid genera and subgenera, and considered by one authority to contain 4,000 named living species...
.
In 2009, John K. Tucker and Manuel J. Tenorio elevated the subfamily Conorbiinae
Conorbiinae
Conorbiinae was a subfamily of small to quite large sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Conidae.This subfamily has also been written by several authors as "Conorbinae". Conorbiinae was a subfamily of small to quite large sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family...
(at that point it was placed in the family Conidae) to the rank of family. This was based on a cladistical analysis of anatomical characters including the radular tooth
Radula
The radula is an anatomical structure that is used by molluscs for feeding, sometimes compared rather inaccurately to a tongue. It is a minutely toothed, chitinous ribbon, which is typically used for scraping or cutting food before the food enters the esophagus...
, morphology
Morphology
Morphology may mean:*Morphology , the study of the structure and content of word forms*Morphology , the study of the form or shape of an organism or part thereof...
(i.e. shell characters), as well as an analysis of prior molecular phylogeny
Molecular phylogeny
Molecular phylogenetics is the analysis of hereditary molecular differences, mainly in DNA sequences, to gain information on an organism's evolutionary relationships. The result of a molecular phylogenetic analysis is expressed in a phylogenetic tree...
studies, all of which was used to construct phylogenetic trees. Tucker and Tenorio noted a close relationship to genera such as Bathytoma in their phylogeny, which corresponded to prior molecular studies by Puillandre et al.. Shortly thereafter, in 2011, Bouchet
Philippe Bouchet
Philippe Bouchet is a French scientist, a zoologist whose primary scientific field of study is malacology. He is a senior professor at the Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle in Paris, and is head of the Malacology laboratory and the Taxonomy Collections Unit there...
, Kantor et al. confirmed the elevation of the subfamily Conorbiinae
Conorbiinae
Conorbiinae was a subfamily of small to quite large sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Conidae.This subfamily has also been written by several authors as "Conorbinae". Conorbiinae was a subfamily of small to quite large sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family...
to the rank of family based upon a detailed molecular phylogeny
Molecular phylogeny
Molecular phylogenetics is the analysis of hereditary molecular differences, mainly in DNA sequences, to gain information on an organism's evolutionary relationships. The result of a molecular phylogenetic analysis is expressed in a phylogenetic tree...
of a dataset of molecular sequences of three gene
Gene
A gene is a molecular unit of heredity of a living organism. It is a name given to some stretches of DNA and RNA that code for a type of protein or for an RNA chain that has a function in the organism. Living beings depend on genes, as they specify all proteins and functional RNA chains...
(DNA) fragments conducted across the superfamily Conoidea
Conoidea
Conoidea is a superfamily of predatory sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks within the suborder Hypsogastropoda. This superfamily is a very large group of marine mollusks, estimated at about 340 recent valid genera and subgenera, and considered by one authority to contain 4,000 named living species...
.
Like other species in the superfamily Conoidea these snails are predatory and venomous, able to inject neurotoxins into their prey with their radula
Radula
The radula is an anatomical structure that is used by molluscs for feeding, sometimes compared rather inaccurately to a tongue. It is a minutely toothed, chitinous ribbon, which is typically used for scraping or cutting food before the food enters the esophagus...
. They are capable of "stinging" humans, therefore live ones should be handled carefully or not at all.
Description
The shell can have different forms: from squatly conical to elongated or even biconical. There are no nodules on the shell, but cords may be present. The interior of the shellGastropod shell
The gastropod shell is a shell which is part of the body of a gastropod or snail, one kind of mollusc. The gastropod shell is an external skeleton or exoskeleton, which serves not only for muscle attachment, but also for protection from predators and from mechanical damage...
, including the columellar region, is substantially remodeled (meaning that the external sculpture is reabsorbed when the body whorl grows over it). Two of the three genera in this family have an asymmertical anal notch. The spire
Spire (mollusc)
A spire is a descriptive term for part of the coiled shell of mollusks. The word is a convenient aid in describing shells, but it does not refer to a very precise part of shell anatomy: the spire consists of all of the whorls except for the body whorl...
in the fossil genus Conorbis
Conorbis
Conorbis is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Conorbidae.This genus was formerly classified in the family Conidae by Vredenburg in the clade Neogastropoda by Sepkoski and in the subfamily Conorbiinae by Harzhauser .Conorbis is the type genus of the family Conorbidae...
is much elevated. Its outer lip is sinuous, forming an oblique posterior sinus.
The living species of this family possess several primitive radular
Radula
The radula is an anatomical structure that is used by molluscs for feeding, sometimes compared rather inaccurately to a tongue. It is a minutely toothed, chitinous ribbon, which is typically used for scraping or cutting food before the food enters the esophagus...
characteristics; they do not have the folds which are present in all other closely related families. The radula usually has an anterior fold, without a waist, base, C-fold, terminating cusps, serrations or accessory process. The basal spur is either parallel with the tooth base or directed towards the apex of the tooth.
Genera
- ArtemidiconusArtemidiconusArtemidiconus is a monospecific genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Conorbidae.Like other species in the superfamily Conoidea these snails are predatory and venomous, able to inject neurotoxins into their prey with their radula.-Species:The only known species within the...
da Motta, 1991 (consisting of one living species, with no fossil record) - BenthofascisBenthofascisBenthofascis is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Conorbidae.Like other species in the superfamily Conoidea these snails are predatory and venomous, able to inject neurotoxins into their prey with their radula....
Iredale, 1936 (consisting of three living species, with no fossil record) - † ConorbisConorbisConorbis is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Conorbidae.This genus was formerly classified in the family Conidae by Vredenburg in the clade Neogastropoda by Sepkoski and in the subfamily Conorbiinae by Harzhauser .Conorbis is the type genus of the family Conorbidae...
Swainson, 1840 (fossil genus from the EoceneEoceneThe Eocene Epoch, lasting from about 56 to 34 million years ago , is a major division of the geologic timescale and the second epoch of the Paleogene Period in the Cenozoic Era. The Eocene spans the time from the end of the Palaeocene Epoch to the beginning of the Oligocene Epoch. The start of the...
and OligoceneOligoceneThe Oligocene is a geologic epoch of the Paleogene Period and extends from about 34 million to 23 million years before the present . As with other older geologic periods, the rock beds that define the period are well identified but the exact dates of the start and end of the period are slightly...
consisting of 14 recognized fossil species)