Muricopsinae
Encyclopedia
Muricopsinae is a taxonomic subfamily of predatory sea snail
s, marine
gastropod mollusks within the large family
Muricidae
, the murex snails and rock snails.
A study, released in September 2010, showed that the subfamily Muricopsinae is polyphyletic
The shell
is wide in the middle and tapers at both ends, making it fusiform
to biconic. The size of the shell varies in length between 5 mm and 85 mm. Its color is white or brown, covered with subdued shades of brown, orange, red or purple markings. The aperture
is broadly oval to almost round and is of variable size. Contrary to the other Muricidae, the siphonal canal
, the semi-tubular extension of the aperture, is of moderate length. Like the other murex shells, each convex whorl
shows a variable number (four or more) of more or less prominent varices
(a thickened axial ridge in the shell), which, in turn, show foliaceous or spinose projections.
The operculum
is the same as in the subfamily Muricinae
. It is unguiculate, thickened at the margin and depressed and annulate in the middle.
The rachiglossan radula
has in each row a three-dimensional rachidian tooth with a raised central cusp and two lateral teeth, as in the subfamily Ocenebrinae
.
Several genera that were recognized in the past have now become synonyms :
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 within the large family
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...
Muricidae
Muricidae
Muricidae, common name murex snails or rock snails, is a large and varied taxonomic family of small to large predatory sea snails. With approximately 1,600 living species the Muricidae represent almost 10% of the Neogastropoda. Additionally, 1,200 fossil species have been recognised...
, the murex snails and rock snails.
A study, released in September 2010, showed that the subfamily Muricopsinae is polyphyletic
Characteristics
This subfamily has been delineated based on the characteristics of the operculum and the radula.The shell
Gastropod 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...
is wide in the middle and tapers at both ends, making it fusiform
Fusiform
Fusiform means having a spindle-like shape that is wide in the middle and tapers at both ends.* Aneurysms can be classified as saccular or fusiform...
to biconic. The size of the shell varies in length between 5 mm and 85 mm. Its color is white or brown, covered with subdued shades of brown, orange, red or purple markings. The aperture
Aperture (mollusc)
The aperture is an opening in certain kinds of mollusc shells: it is the main opening of the shell, where part of the body of the animal emerges for locomotion, feeding, etc....
is broadly oval to almost round and is of variable size. Contrary to the other Muricidae, the siphonal canal
Siphonal canal
Some sea marine gastropods have a soft tubular anterior extension of the mantle called a siphon through which water is drawn into the mantle cavity and over the gill and which serves as a chemoreceptor to locate food. In many carnivorous snails, where the siphon is particularly long, the structure...
, the semi-tubular extension of the aperture, is of moderate length. Like the other murex shells, each convex whorl
Whorl (mollusc)
A whorl is a single, complete 360° revolution or turn in the spiral growth of a mollusc shell. A spiral configuration of the shell is found in of numerous gastropods, but it is also found in shelled cephalopods including Nautilus, Spirula and the large extinct subclass of cephalopods known as the...
shows a variable number (four or more) of more or less prominent varices
Varix (mollusc)
A varix is an anatomical feature of the shell of certain sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs.It is a thickened axial ridge in the shell of some families of gastropods. A varix is located at intervals around the whorl, and is formed by considerable thickening of the outer lip at a resting stage...
(a thickened axial ridge in the shell), which, in turn, show foliaceous or spinose projections.
The operculum
Operculum
Operculum may refer to:*Operculum , a stiff structure resembling a lid or a small door that opens and closes**Operculum , a lid on the shell of some gastropods**Operculum , a lid on the orifice of some bryozoans...
is the same as in the subfamily Muricinae
Muricinae
Muricinae is a taxonomic subfamily of predatory sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks within the large family Muricidae, the murex snails and rock snails....
. It is unguiculate, thickened at the margin and depressed and annulate in the middle.
The rachiglossan 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...
has in each row a three-dimensional rachidian tooth with a raised central cusp and two lateral teeth, as in the subfamily Ocenebrinae
Ocenebrinae
Ocenebrinae is a taxonomic subfamily of predatory sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks. This subfamily is within the large family Muricidae, which are commonly known as the murex and rock snails....
.
Distribution
The genera in this subfamily are distributed worldwide, mainly in tropical and subtropical waters, at depths between 0 to 300 m.Genera
- AcanthotrophonAcanthotrophonAcanthotrophon is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails.-Species:Species within the genus Acanthotrophon include:* Acanthotrophon carduus...
Hertlein & Strong, 1951 - BizetiellaBizetiellaBizetiella is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails.-Species:Species within the genus Bizetiella include:* Bizetiella carmen...
Radwin & D'Attilio, 1972 - FavartiaFavartiaFavartia is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails.-Species:Species within the genus Favartia include:Subgenus Favartia Jousseaume, 1880...
Jousseaume, 1880 - MaxwelliaMaxwelliaMaxwellia is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails.The genus was named after Maxwell Smith , an American malacologist.-Description:...
Baily, 1950 - MurexsulMurexsulMurexsul is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails.-Species:Species within the genus Murexsul include:* Murexsul aikeni Lussi, 2010...
Iredale, 1915 - MuricopsisMuricopsisMuricopsis is a genus of small predatory sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Muricidae, the rock snails.-Species:According to the World Register of Marine Species , the following species with accepted names are included within the genus Muricopsis : * Muricopsis carnicolor Bozzetti,...
Bucquoy & Dautzenberg, 1882 - PazinotusPazinotusPazinotus is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails.-Species:Species within the genus Pazinotus include:* Pazinotus advenus Poorman, 1980...
E.H. Vokes, 1970 - PradoxaPradoxaPradoxa is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails.-Species:Species within the genus Pradoxa include:* Pradoxa confirmata...
Fernandes & Rolan, 1993 - RolandiellaRolandiellaRolandiella is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails.-Species:Species within the genus Rolandiella include:* Rolandiella scotti...
B.A. Marshall & Burch, 2000 - SubpterynotusSubpterynotusSubpterynotus is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails.-Species:Species within the genus Subpterynotus include:* Subpterynotus exquisitus...
Olsson & Harbison, 1953 - VitulariaVitulariaVitularia is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails.-Species:Species within the genus Vitularia include:* Vitularia crenifer...
Swainson, 1840 - XastiliaXastiliaXastilia is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails.-Species:Species within the genus Xastilia include:* Xastilia kosugei Bouchet & Houart, 1994...
Bouchet & Houart, 1994
Several genera that were recognized in the past have now become synonyms :
- Minnimurex Woolacott, 1957 accepted as Murexiella Clench & Farfante, 1945
- Murexiella Clench & Farfante, 1945 accepted as Favartia (Murexiella) Clench & Perez Farfante, 1945
- Paradoxa Fernandes & Rolan, 1990 accepted as Pradoxa Fernandes & Rolan, 1993
- Paradoxon Fernandes & Rolán, 1990 accepted as Pradoxa Fernandes & Rolan, 1993
- Pygmaepterys E. H. Vokes, 1978 accepted as Favartia (Pygmaepterys) E.H. Vokes, 1978
- Risomurex Olsson & McGinty, 1958 accepted as Muricopsis (Risomurex) Olsson & McGinty, 1958
- Transtrafer Iredale, 1929 accepted as Vitularia Swainson, 1840