Marginellidae
Encyclopedia
Marginellidae, or the margin shells, are a taxonomic family
of small, often colorful, sea snail
s, marine
gastropod molluscs in the clade Neogastropoda
.
The confusion over the classification stems from the fact that the earlier classifications were based rather crudely on shell characters. Although many good differential shell characters do exist within this group, those characters were generally misinterpreted or not recognized as significant. Such information as did exist on the radula
e and the external anatomy of the living animals was widely scattered in the scientific literature, and internal anatomical descriptions were not available until fairly recently.
The external color of the shell can be white, cream, yellow, orange, red, or brown, and can be uniformly colored, or patterned in various ways. The protoconch
is paucispiral. The lip of the shell is thickened, and can be smooth or denticulate. An external varix may be present or absent, a siphonal notch may be present or absent. The columella may have 2-6 plications. The operculum
is absent in this family.
In the systematic, the following sequence is used for each generic synonym:
Marginellidae Fleming, 1828:328
Subfamily MARGINELLONINAE Coan 1965:186,191
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, often colorful, 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 molluscs in the clade Neogastropoda
Neogastropoda
Neogastropoda is an unranked taxonomic clade of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks. For many years prior to 2005 Neogastropoda was an order.- Description :...
.
Taxonomy
The higher classification of the family Marginellidae has long been in a state of confusion. Many popular works still treat all members of this family under the single genus Marginella, basing them primarily on superficial similarities of the shell.The confusion over the classification stems from the fact that the earlier classifications were based rather crudely on shell characters. Although many good differential shell characters do exist within this group, those characters were generally misinterpreted or not recognized as significant. Such information as did exist on the 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...
e and the external anatomy of the living animals was widely scattered in the scientific literature, and internal anatomical descriptions were not available until fairly recently.
Shell description
The shell of Marginellidae is usually small, but varies in different species from minute to medium-sized.The external color of the shell can be white, cream, yellow, orange, red, or brown, and can be uniformly colored, or patterned in various ways. The protoconch
Protoconch
A protoconch is an embryonic or larval shell of some classes of molluscs, e.g., the initial chamber of an ammonite or the larval shell of a gastropod...
is paucispiral. The lip of the shell is thickened, and can be smooth or denticulate. An external varix may be present or absent, a siphonal notch may be present or absent. The columella may have 2-6 plications. The operculum
Operculum (gastropod)
The operculum, meaning little lid, is a corneous or calcareous anatomical structure which exists in many groups of sea snails and freshwater snails, and also in a few groups of land snails...
is absent in this family.
Genera
Abbreviations and conventions:- † - (preceding genus), denotes extinct genus
- † - (following species), denotes fossil species
- (M) - original designation by monotype
- OD - original designation
- OD (M) - original designation as type species, but also monotypic
- SD - subsequent designation as type
- SD (M) - subsequent designation as type species, but also monotypic
- T - original designation by tautonomy
In the systematic, the following sequence is used for each generic synonym:
- Genus in original combination, followed by author, year, page number(s)
- Designation of type species followed by author, year, page number(s)
- Reference only to Type species
Marginellidae Fleming, 1828:328
Subfamily MARGINELLONINAE Coan 1965:186,191
-
-
-
- Genus AfrivolutaAfrivoluta pringleiAfrivoluta pringlei is a species of large deepwater sea snail with a glossy shell, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Marginellidae, the marginellids....
Tomlin, 1947:244-
- Afrivoluta pringleiAfrivoluta pringleiAfrivoluta pringlei is a species of large deepwater sea snail with a glossy shell, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Marginellidae, the marginellids....
Tomlin, 1947; OD (M)
- Afrivoluta pringlei
-
- Genus MarginellonaMarginellona gigasMarginellona gigas is a species of very large deepwater sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Marginellidae. This species was originally thought to be a volute, in the family Volutidae, but it is in fact a giant marginellid....
Martens, 1904-
- Marginella (M.) gigasMarginellona gigasMarginellona gigas is a species of very large deepwater sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Marginellidae. This species was originally thought to be a volute, in the family Volutidae, but it is in fact a giant marginellid....
Martens, 1904; (M)
- Marginella (M.) gigas
-
- Genus Afrivoluta
-
-
- Subfamily MARGINELLINAE Fleming, 1828:328
-
-
- Genus † Myobarbum Sohl, 1963
-
-
-
- Tribe AUSTROGINELLINI Coovert and Coovert, 1995:80
-
-
- "Serrata Group"
-
-
-
-
- Genus † Conuginella LaseronCharles Francis LaseronCharles Francis Laseron , was an American-born Australian naturalist and malacologist.Charles Laseron was born on 6 December 1887 at Manitowoc, Wisconsin, United States of America, to English parents the Rev...
, 1957:288-
- Marginella inermis Tate, 1878 †; OD (M)
-
- Genus SerrataSerrata (gastropod)Serrata is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Marginellidae, the margin snails.-Species:Species within the genus Serrata include: * Serrata amphora Boyer, 2008* Serrata arcuata Boyer, 2008...
Jousseaume, 1875:167-
- Serrata serrata (Gaskoin, 1849), = Marginella serrata Gaskoin, 1849;T
-
- Genus SerrataginellaSerrataginellaSerrataginella is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Marginellidae, the margin snails.Serrataginella is now a synonym of Serrata.-Species:Species within the genus Serrataginella include:...
Coovert and Coovert, 1995:82-
- Marginella spryi (Clover, 1974), OD (M)
-
- Genus Stromboginella LaseronCharles Francis LaseronCharles Francis Laseron , was an American-born Australian naturalist and malacologist.Charles Laseron was born on 6 December 1887 at Manitowoc, Wisconsin, United States of America, to English parents the Rev...
, 1957:289-
- Marginella crassidens Chapman and Crespin,1928 †; OD (M)
-
- Genus HydroginellaHydroginellaHydroginella is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Marginellidae, the margin snails.-Species:Species within the genus Hydroginella include:* Hydroginella angustata Boyer, Wakefield & McCleery, 2003...
LaseronCharles Francis LaseronCharles Francis Laseron , was an American-born Australian naturalist and malacologist.Charles Laseron was born on 6 December 1887 at Manitowoc, Wisconsin, United States of America, to English parents the Rev...
, 1957:284-
- Hydroginella dispersa LaseronCharles Francis LaseronCharles Francis Laseron , was an American-born Australian naturalist and malacologist.Charles Laseron was born on 6 December 1887 at Manitowoc, Wisconsin, United States of America, to English parents the Rev...
, 1957; OD (M)
- Hydroginella dispersa Laseron
-
- Genus † Conuginella Laseron
-
-
-
-
- "Austroginella Group"
-
-
-
-
- Genus † Mioginella LaseronCharles Francis LaseronCharles Francis Laseron , was an American-born Australian naturalist and malacologist.Charles Laseron was born on 6 December 1887 at Manitowoc, Wisconsin, United States of America, to English parents the Rev...
, 1957:287-
- Marginella regula Cotton, 1949 †; OD (M)
-
- Genus † Mioginella Laseron
-
-
-
-
-
- Genus ProtoginellaProtoginellaProtoginella is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Marginellidae, the margin snails.-Species:According to the World Register of Marine Species , the following species with valid names are included within the genus Protoginella : * Protoginella caledonica Boyer, 2001*...
LaseronCharles Francis LaseronCharles Francis Laseron , was an American-born Australian naturalist and malacologist.Charles Laseron was born on 6 December 1887 at Manitowoc, Wisconsin, United States of America, to English parents the Rev...
, 1957:285-
- Marginella lavigata Brazier, 1877, = Marginella (Prunum) lavigata Brazier, 1877; OD (M)
-
- Genus † Nudifaba Eames, 1952:122
-
- Marginella (N.) rakhiensis Eames, 1952 †; OD (M)
-
- Genus AlaginellaAlaginellaAlaginella is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Marginellidae.-Species:Species within the genus Alaginella include:* Alaginella albino * Alaginella atracta...
LaseronCharles Francis LaseronCharles Francis Laseron , was an American-born Australian naturalist and malacologist.Charles Laseron was born on 6 December 1887 at Manitowoc, Wisconsin, United States of America, to English parents the Rev...
, 1957:286-
- Marginella ochracea Angas, 1871; OD
-
- Genus † Hiwia MarwickJohn MarwickJohn Marwick MM was a New Zealand palaeontologist and geologist.John Marwick was born near Oamaru, New Zealand, on 3 February 1891, the son of Hugh Marwick, and his wife, Jane née Cuthbert. While at Waitaki Boys' High School he helped to collect fossil shells and learned the beginnings of how to...
, 1931:129-
- Marginella (Hiwia) amplificata MarwickJohn MarwickJohn Marwick MM was a New Zealand palaeontologist and geologist.John Marwick was born near Oamaru, New Zealand, on 3 February 1891, the son of Hugh Marwick, and his wife, Jane née Cuthbert. While at Waitaki Boys' High School he helped to collect fossil shells and learned the beginnings of how to...
, 1931 †; OD (M)
- Marginella (Hiwia) amplificata Marwick
-
- Genus Austroginella LaseronCharles Francis LaseronCharles Francis Laseron , was an American-born Australian naturalist and malacologist.Charles Laseron was born on 6 December 1887 at Manitowoc, Wisconsin, United States of America, to English parents the Rev...
, 1957:285-
- Marginella muscaria Lamarck, 1822; OD
-
- Genus MesoginellaMesoginellaMesoginella is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Marginellidae, the margin snails.-Species:According to the World Register of Marine Species , the following species are included within the genus Mesoginella :...
LaseronCharles Francis LaseronCharles Francis Laseron , was an American-born Australian naturalist and malacologist.Charles Laseron was born on 6 December 1887 at Manitowoc, Wisconsin, United States of America, to English parents the Rev...
, 1957:282-
- Marginella turbinata G. B. Sowerby II, 1846; OD (M)
-
- Genus ClosiaClosiaClosia is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Marginellidae, the margin snails.-Species:Species within the genus Closia include:* Closia giadae Cossignani, 2001* Closia majuscula...
Gray, 1857:36-
- Closia sarda (Kiener, 1834), = Marginella sarda Kiener, 1834; M
-
- Genus Ovaginella LaseronCharles Francis LaseronCharles Francis Laseron , was an American-born Australian naturalist and malacologist.Charles Laseron was born on 6 December 1887 at Manitowoc, Wisconsin, United States of America, to English parents the Rev...
, 1957-
- Marginella ovulum G. B. Sowerby II, 1846; OD
-
- Genus BalanettaBalanettaBalanetta is a genus of small, often colorful, sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the taxonomic family of the margin shells .-Species:* Balanetta amydrozona * Balanetta baylii Jousseaume, 1875...
Jousseaume, 1875-
- Balanetta baylei Jousseaume, 1875; M
-
- Genus Protoginella
-
-
-
- Tribe PRUNINI Coovert and Coovert, 1995:80
-
-
-
- Genus VolvarinaVolvarinaVolvarina is a genus of small to very small sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the family Marginellidae, the margin shells. The difference between the genera Volvarina and Prunum is not clearly delineated and is based on morphological differences...
Hinds, 1844:75-
- Marginella nitida Hinds, 1844, = Marginella (Volvarina) nitida Hinds, 1844, = Voluta mitrella Risso, 1826; SD Redfield, 1870:221
-
- Genus PrunumPrunumPrunum is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Marginellidae, the margin snails.The separation between the genera Prunum and Volvarina is not very precise. They form together a monophyletic clade...
Herrmannsen, 1852:113-
- Voluta prunum GmelinJohann Friedrich GmelinJohann Friedrich Gmelin was a German naturalist, botanist, entomologist, herpetologist and malacologist.- Education :Johann Friedrich Gmelin was born as the eldest son of Philipp Friedrich Gmelin in 1748 in Tübingen...
, 1791; M
- Voluta prunum Gmelin
-
- Genus BullataBullataBullata is a genus of small to large sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Marginellidae, the margin snails.-Shell description:...
Jousseaume, 1875:167, 250-
- Bullata bullata (Born, 1778), = Voluta bullata Born, 1778; T
-
- Genus Rivomarginella Brandt, 1968:275
-
- Rivomarginella morrisoni Brandt 1968; OD (M)
-
- Genus CryptospiraCryptospiraCryptospira is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Marginellidae, the margin snails.-Species:According to the World Register of Marine Species , the following species with valid names are included within the genus Cryptospira :* Cryptospira bridgettae Wakefield, 2010*...
Hinds, 1844:76-
- Marginella tricincta Hinds, 1844, = Marginella (Cryptospira) tricincta Hinds, 1844; SD (M) Gray, 1847:142
-
- Genus HyalinaHyalinaHyalina is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Marginellidae, the margin snails.-Species:according to the World Register of Marine Species , the following species with valid names are included within the genus Hyalina :* Hyalina albocylindrus Lussi & Smith, 1999* Hyalina...
Schumacher, 1817:234-
- Hyalina pellucida Schumacher, 1817, = Bulla pallida Linné, 1758; M
-
- Genus Volvarina
-
-
-
- Tribe MARGINELLINI Fleming, 1828:328
-
-
-
- Genus † Stazzania Sacco, 1890a:138
-
- Marginella (Stazzania) emarginata Sismonda, 1847, = Marginella emarginata Sismonda, 1847 †; M
-
- Genus DentimargoDentimargoDentimargo is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Marginellidae, the margin snails.-Species:Species within the genus Dentimargo include:* Dentimargo alchymista Melvill & Standen, 1903...
Cossmann, 1899:90-
- 'Marginella dentifera Lamarck, 1803 †; OD
-
- Genus EratoideaEratoideaEratoidea is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Marginellidae, the margin snails.-Species:Species within the genus Eratoidea include:* Eratoidea hematita * Eratoidea watsoni...
Weinkauff, 1879:140-
- Marginella margarita Kiener, 1834; SD Cossmann, 1899:87
-
- Genus † Euryentome Cossmann, 1899:95
-
- Marginella crassilabra Conrad, 1833 (non Marginella crassilabar Bory de St. Vincent, 1827), = Marginella silabra Palmer, 1937 (nom. nov.), = Marginella aratina Lea, 1833 †; OD
-
- Genus † Simplicoglabella Sacco, 1890b:21
-
- Marginella (Glabella) taurinensis Michelotti, 1847 †; SD (M)
-
- Genus MarginellaMarginellaMarginella is a genus of small tropical and warm-water sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the family Marginellidae, the margin snails. It is the type genus of the family.:...
Lamarck, 1799:70-
- Voluta glabella Linné, 1758; M
-
- Genus GlabellaGlabella (gastropod)Glabella is a genus of small tropical and warm-water sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the family Marginellidae, the margin snails.- Species:...
Swainson, 1840:133-
- Voluta faba Linné, 1758; SD (M) Gray, 1847:142
-
- Genus † Stazzania Sacco, 1890a:138
-
-
Further reading
1853. In: 1853-1858. The genera of Recent Mollusca; arranged according to their organization. John van Voorst, London. 3 vols [1:vi-xl, 1-484; 2:1-661; 3:pls. 1-138].-
- 1962. A new genus in the family Marginellidae. Proceedings of the Malacological Society of London 35(1):14-15.
- 1963. The family position of Afrivoluta pringlei Tomlin. The Journal of Conchology 25(5):198-199. 1974. A new species of Cypraea from West Africa and three new species of Marginellidae from the Indian Ocean. The Journal of Conchology 28(4):213-216, pl.8. 1965. A proposed reclassification of the family Marginellidae. The Veliger 7(3):184-189
- 1966. The West American Marginellidae. The Veliger 8(4): 276-299, pls. 48-51.
- 1976. Status of the genus Hyalina Schumacher, 1817 (Mollusca: Gastropoda). Journal of Mollucan Studies 42(2):217-222. 1922. On the pseudo-genus Pseudomarginella, v. Maltzan. Proceedings of the Malacological Society of London15(1):3-5.
- 1969a. On the identity of Criptospira glauca and the related Cryptospira ventricosa, (Gastropoda: Marginellidae). Basteria 33(5-6):85-92.
- 1969b. Notes om Marginella spryi. Basteria 39(1-2):23-27.
- 1975. Marginella orstomi. A new species from deeper water off the coast of West Africa (gastropoda, Marginellidae). Bulletin Zoologisch Museum, Universiteit von Amsterdam vol.4 No.12 1972. The genus Rivomarginella (Gastropoda, Marginellidae). Beaufortia 20(263):69-75.
- 1986a. Type species list. Marginella Marginalia 1(1):1-3.
- 1986b. Generic group names. Marginella Marginalia 1(2):5-7.
- 1987a. The genus Afrivoluta and a review of the type species Afrivoluta pringlei Tomlin, 1947. Marginella Marginalia 2(1):1-8.
- 1987b. Addenda to Afrivoluta paper. Marginella Marginalia 2(6):39
- 1987c. Propor usage of the generic names Haloginella, Hyalina, and Volvarina with a diagnosis of the genus Haloginella. Marginella Marginalia 3(1):1-7
- 1987d. The external anatomy of two species of Caribbean Marginellidae. Marginella Marginalia 3(5):33-37.
- 1988a. Type species of the genera Austroginella and Mesoginella and their synonyms. Marginella Marginalia 4(2/3):9-26.
- 1988b. Marginellidae of Florida, Part II. Prunum succinea with a discussion of Prunum and Volvarina. Marginella Marginalia 4(5)_35-42, pl. 1.
- Coovert G. A. & Coovert H. K. (1995). "Revision of the Supraspecific Classification of Marginelliform Gastropods". The NautilusThe Nautilus (journal)The Nautilus is a peer-reviewed scientific journal covering research in malacology. Hence its scope includes all aspects of the biology, ecology, and systematics of mollusks....
109(2 & 3): 43-110. 1899. Essaid e paléonconchologie comparée. Cossmann, Paris. Vol. 3, 201 p., pls. 1-8. 1883 . In: 1880-1887. Manuel de conchyologie et de paléontologie conchyologique ou histoire naturelle des mollusques vivantes et fossiles. Libraire F. Savy, Paris. Vol. 2(fascicule 6):513-608, 1883. 1989. Le genre Volvarina (Marginellidae) dans la Mediterranée et l´Atlantique du nord est. Bolletino Malacologico 25(5-8):159-182.
- Coovert G. A. & Coovert H. K. (1995). "Revision of the Supraspecific Classification of Marginelliform Gastropods". The Nautilus
- 1988. The marginellids of São Tomé, West Africa. Journal of Conchology 33(1):1-30, pls. 1-2.
- 1992. The Marginellidae of Angola: The genus Volvarina. The Journal of Conchology 34(4):187-198
- 1994. The Marginellidae of Angola: The genus Marginella. Journal of Conchology 35:103-119 1847. A list of the genera of Recent Mollusac, their synonyma and types. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 1847 pt.15[=17]:129-219. 1991. Rediscovery of Marginellona gigas (Martens, 1904), with notes on the anatomy and systematic position on the subfamily Marginelloninae (Gastropoda: Marginellidae). Nemouria 37:1-19. 1844. Descriptions of Marginellae collected during the voyage of H.M.S. Sulphur, and from the collection of Mr. Cuming. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 1844 pt. 12[= vol. 14].72-77. 1875. Coquilles de la famille des marginelles. Monographie. Revue et Magasin de Zoologie, ser.3, 3:164-271, 429-435, pls. 7-8. [Also issued separately, pp. 1–115, pls. 7-8]. 1957. A new classification of the Australian Marginellidae (Mollusca), with a review of species from the Solanderian and Dampierian zoogeographical provinces. Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 8(3):274-311.
- 1852. Description of new species of Marginella, with notes on sundry species of Marginella and Cypraea. Annals of the Lyceum of Natural History in New York 5:224-228.
- 1870. Catalogue of the known species, recent and fossil, of the family Marginellidae. American Journal of Concholoigy 6(2):215-269. 1864-1865. Monograph of the genus Marginella. In; Chonchologia Iconica: or illustration of the shells of molluscous animals. Vol. 15, pls. 2-13 [Aug. 1864], pls. 1,14-27, index, errata [Jan. 1865]. 1963. New gastropod genera from the late Upper Creatceous of East Gulf Coastal * 1846. Monograph of the genus Marginella. In: Thesaurus Conchyliorum, or figures and descriptions of Recent Shells. Sowerby, London. Vol 1(7):239-406, pls.68-78.
- The Academy of Natural Sciences. A Database of Western Atlantic Marine Mollusca 1904. Pt. B, Anatomisch-systematische untersuchungen einiger Gastropoden, pp. 147–180, pls. 6-9. In: Martens and Thiele. Die beschalten Gastropoden der deutscen Tiefsee-Expedition 1898-1899. 1947. A new South African volutid. The Journal of Conchology 22(10):244-245 1878-1879. Die gattungen Marginella und Erato In: Systematisches Conchylien-Cabinet von Martini und Cheminitz. 2nd ed. Bauer and Raspe, Nürnberg. Vol. 5(4):1-166, pls. 1-26.