Odostomiinae
Encyclopedia
Odostomiinae, Odostomia snails and their allies, is a taxonomic subfamily of minute parasitic sea snail
s. These are marine
heterobranch
gastropod mollusks, or micromollusk
s, in the family Pyramidellidae
.
It includes the tribe Liostomini, a name given to those genera which have an intorted protoconch
. The rest of the genera however do not form a single monophyletic taxon.
Subfamily Odostomiinae has been classified as one of eleven recognised subfamilies of the very voluminous gastropod family Pyramidellidae
(according to the taxonomy of Ponder
& Lindberg 1997): Odostomiinae, Turbonillinae
, Chrysallidinae
, Cingulininae
, Cyclostremellinae
, Sayellinae
, Syrnolinae, Eulimellinae
, Pyramidellinae
, Odostomellinae
and Tiberiinae
.
In the taxonomy of Bouchet & Rocroi
(2005), this subfamily also comprises the subfamilies Chrysallidinae
, Cyclostremellinae
and Odostomellinae
, that they have downgraded to the rank of tribe
.
subfamily Odostomiinae Pelseneer, 1928
According to Schander, Van Aartsen and Corgan (1999) there are 33 genera in Odostominae with four possible additional genera of uncertain status.
tribe Odostomiini
tribe Chrysallidini
tribe Cyclostremellini
tribe Odostomellini
, which is often pointed sideways or wrapped up. Most species in the subfamily have shells which are smaller than 13 mm. The texture of these shells is most often smooth but sometimes sculptured
in various forms such as ribs and spirals. Their color is mostly white, cream or yellowish, sometimes with red or brown lines. The teleoconch is dextrally coiled, but the larva
l shells are sinistral. This results in a sinistrally coiled protoconch. The columella has usually one, but sometimes several, spiral folds
. The aperture
is closed by an operculum
.
s, but some are known to feed on peanut worms and crustacean
s.
They do not have a radula
. Instead their long proboscis
is used to pierce the skin of its prey and suck up its fluids and soft tissues. The eyes on the grooved tentacles are situated toward the base of the tentacles. Between the head and the foot, a lobed process called the mentum
( = thin projection) is visible. These molluscs are hermaphrodite
s.
Snail
Snail is a common name applied to most of the members of the molluscan class Gastropoda that have coiled shells in the adult stage. When the word is used in its most general sense, it includes sea snails, land snails and freshwater snails. The word snail without any qualifier is however more often...
s. These are 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...
heterobranch
Heterobranchia
Heterobranchia, the heterobranchs or Euthyneura, is a taxonomic clade of snails and slugs, which includes species from the sea, the land and freshwater; marine, aquatic and terrestrial gastropod mollusks....
gastropod mollusks, or micromollusk
Micromollusk
A micromollusk is a descriptive term for a shelled mollusk which is extremely small, even at full adult size. The word is usually, but not exclusively, applied to marine mollusks, although in addition, numerous species of land snails and freshwater mollusks also reach adult size at very small...
s, in the family Pyramidellidae
Pyramidellidae
Pyramidellidae, common name the pyram family, or pyramid shells, is a voluminous taxonomic family of mostly small and minute ectoparasitic sea snails, marine heterobranch gastropod molluscs or micromolluscs....
.
Taxonomy
The subfamily Odostomiinae has been recognized as monophyleticIt includes the tribe Liostomini, a name given to those genera which have an intorted 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...
. The rest of the genera however do not form a single monophyletic taxon.
Subfamily Odostomiinae has been classified as one of eleven recognised subfamilies of the very voluminous gastropod family Pyramidellidae
Pyramidellidae
Pyramidellidae, common name the pyram family, or pyramid shells, is a voluminous taxonomic family of mostly small and minute ectoparasitic sea snails, marine heterobranch gastropod molluscs or micromolluscs....
(according to the taxonomy of Ponder
Winston Ponder
Winston F. Ponder B.Sc, M.Sc, Ph.D, D.Sc. is a noted malacologist from New Zealand who has named and described many marine animals, especially micromolluscs. He is a graduate of the University of Auckland, New Zealand....
& Lindberg 1997): Odostomiinae, Turbonillinae
Turbonillinae
Turbonillinae is a subfamily of mostly minute parasitic sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the family Pyramidellidae, the pyrams and their allies.-Taxonomy:...
, Chrysallidinae
Chrysallidinae
Chrysallidinae is a taxonomic group of very small sea snails in the family Pyramidellidae.- Taxonomy :Chrysallidinae has been one of eleven recognized subfamilies of the gastropod family Pyramidellidae...
, Cingulininae
Cingulininae
Cingulinini is a taxonomic tribe of very small sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Pyramidellidae.- Taxonomy :Cingulininae was first introduced by Saurin in 1959, and according to Schander, Van Aartsen & Corgan it comprises seven genera; Cingulina, Cinctigua, Coemansia,...
, Cyclostremellinae
Cyclostremellinae
Cyclostremellini is a tribe, a taxonomic grouping, of minute sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks or micromollusks, in the family Pyramidellidae, the pyrams.- Taxonomy :...
, Sayellinae
Sayellinae
Sayellini is a taxonomic tribe of minute ectoparasitic sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs, or micromollusks, in the very large family Pyramidellidae, the pyrams and their allies.- Taxonomy :...
, Syrnolinae, Eulimellinae
Eulimellinae
Eulimellini is a tribe of minute sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the family Pyramidellidae, the pyrams and their allies.- Taxonomy :According to Schander, Van Aartsen & Corgan there are 17 genera in the Eulimellinae....
, Pyramidellinae
Pyramidellinae
Pyramidellinae is a taxonomic subfamily of minute sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Pyramidellidae, the pyrams and their allies.- Taxonomy :...
, Odostomellinae
Odostomellinae
Odostomellini is a taxonomic tribe of minute sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs within the family Pyramidellidae the pyrams and their allies.- Taxonomy :...
and Tiberiinae
Tiberiinae
Tiberia is a genus of minute parasitic sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the family Pyramidellidae, the pyrams and their allies.- Taxonomy :...
.
In the taxonomy of Bouchet & Rocroi
Taxonomy of the Gastropoda (Bouchet & Rocroi, 2005)
The taxonomy of the Gastropoda as it was revised by Philippe Bouchet and Jean-Pierre Rocroi is currently the most up-to-date overall system for classifying gastropod mollusks...
(2005), this subfamily also comprises the subfamilies Chrysallidinae
Chrysallidinae
Chrysallidinae is a taxonomic group of very small sea snails in the family Pyramidellidae.- Taxonomy :Chrysallidinae has been one of eleven recognized subfamilies of the gastropod family Pyramidellidae...
, Cyclostremellinae
Cyclostremellinae
Cyclostremellini is a tribe, a taxonomic grouping, of minute sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks or micromollusks, in the family Pyramidellidae, the pyrams.- Taxonomy :...
and Odostomellinae
Odostomellinae
Odostomellini is a taxonomic tribe of minute sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs within the family Pyramidellidae the pyrams and their allies.- Taxonomy :...
, that they have downgraded to the rank of tribe
Tribe (biology)
In biology, a tribe is a taxonomic rank between family and genus. It is sometimes subdivided into subtribes.Some examples include the tribes: Canini, Acalypheae, Hominini, Bombini, and Antidesmeae.-See also:* Biological classification* Rank...
.
subfamily Odostomiinae Pelseneer, 1928
- tribe Odostomiini Pelseneer, 1928
- tribe Chrysallidini Saurin, 1958 - formerly subfamily Chrysallidinae
- tribe Cyclostremellini D.R. Moore, 1966 - formerly subfamily Cyclostremellinae
- tribe Odostomellini Saurin, 1959 - formerly subfamily Odostomellinae
According to Schander, Van Aartsen and Corgan (1999) there are 33 genera in Odostominae with four possible additional genera of uncertain status.
Genera
Genera in the subfamily Odostomiinae include:tribe Odostomiini
- OdostomiaOdostomiaOdostomia is the most speciose genus of minute sea snails, pyramidellid gastropod mollusks. This genus is currently placed in the family Pyramidellidae in the subfamily Odostomiinae. There are several hundred species in the genus...
Fleming, 1813 - type genus - AartseniaAartseniaAartsenia is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Pyramidellidae, the pyrams and their allies.-Species:Species within the genus Aartsenia include:* Aartsenia arctica...
Warén, 1991 - Auristomia Monterosato, 1884
- BooneaBooneaBoonea is a small genus of small sea snails, pyramidellid gastropod mollusks.This genus is currently placed in the subfamily Odostomiinae, of the family Pyramidellidae .-Life habits:...
- Brachystomia Monterosato, 1884
- Colpostomia Cossmann, 1921
- Creanatodostomia Nomura, 1937
- Cyclodostomia Sacco, 1892
- Doliella Monterosato, 1880
- EulimastomaEulimastomaEulimastoma is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Pyramidellidae, the pyrams and their allies.-Species:Species within the genus Eulimastoma include:* Eulimastoma canaliculatum Eulimastoma is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Pyramidellidae,...
Bartsch, 1916 - Eustomia Cossmann, 1921
- EvaleaEvaleaEvalea is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Pyramidellidae, the pyrams and their allies.-Species:Species within the genus Evalea include:* Evalea amchitkana...
A. AdamsArthur Adams (zoologist)Arthur Adams was an English physician and naturalist.Adams was assistant surgeon on board H.M.S. "Actaeon" in company with HMS Samarang in the British Navy during the survey of the Malay Archipelago, the Japan Sea, Korea and China,from 1843 to 1846. He edited the Zoology of the voyage of H.M.S....
, 1860 - Gumina FinlayHarold John FinlayHarold John Finlay was a New Zealand palaeontologist and conchologist. He was born in Comilla, India , on 22 March 1901....
, 1928 - Heida DallW. H. DallWilliam Healey Dall was an American naturalist, a prominent malacologist, and one of the earliest scientific explorers of interior Alaska...
,l, 1903 - Jordaniella Chaster, 1898
- Kunopia 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...
, 1959 - LiostomiaLiostomiaLiostomia is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Pyramidellidae, the pyrams and their allies.-Species:Species within the genus Liostomia include:* Liostomia afzelii Warén, 1991...
G. O. Sars, 1878 - Macrodostomia Sacco, 1892
- Marginodostomia Nomura, 1936possible synonyme of Cyclodostomia fide Saurin (1958:64)
- MegastomiaMegastomiaMegastomia is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Pyramidellidae, the pyrams and their allies.-Species:Species within the genus Megastomia include:* Megastomia aliter Penas & Rolan, 1999...
Monterosato, 1884 - NesiodostomiaNesiodostomiaNesiodostomia is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Pyramidellidae, the pyrams and their allies.-Species:Species within the genus Nesiodostomia include:* Nesiodostomia montforti Corgan, 1972...
Pilsbry, 1918 - Nisostomia Cossmann, 1921
- NoemiameaNoemiameaNoemiamea is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Pyramidellidae, the pyrams and their allies.-Species:Species within the genus Noemiamea include:* Noemiamea batllori Moreno, Peñas & Rolán, 2003...
De Folin in Hoyle, 1886- have been shown to be a part of Odostomia sensu stricta by Schander and co-workers (2003) - Obexomia Laws, 1941
- Odetta De Folin, 1870
- OndinaOndinaOndina is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Pyramidellidae, the pyrams and their allies.-Species:Species within the genus Ondina include:* Ondina anceps * Ondina coarctata...
De Folin, 1870 - Pyramistomia Cossmann, 1921
- SinuatodostomiaSinuatodostomiaSinuatodostomia is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Pyramidellidae, the pyrams and their allies.-Species:Species within the genus Sinuatodostomia include:...
Nomura, 1937 - Sinustomia Cossmann, 1921
- Striodostomia Laws, 1940
- Turridostomia Habe, 1961
- Villia DallW. H. DallWilliam Healey Dall was an American naturalist, a prominent malacologist, and one of the earliest scientific explorers of interior Alaska...
, & Bartsch, 1904 - VolutaxiellaVolutaxiellaVolutaxiella is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Pyramidellidae, the pyrams and their allies.-Species:Species within the genus Volutaxiella include:* Volutaxiella subantarctica Strebel, 1908...
Strebel, 1908
tribe Chrysallidini
tribe Cyclostremellini
tribe Odostomellini
Additional genera
Some additional genera which may belong in the subfamily Odostomiinae are:- Angustispira Pelseneer, 1912
- Myxa HedleyCharles HedleyCharles Hedley was a naturalist, active in Australia and winner of the 1925 Clarke Medal.-Early life:...
, 1903 - PseudorissoinaPseudorissoinaPseudorissoina is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Pyramidellidae, the pyrams and their allies.-Species:Species within the genus Pseudorissoina include:* Pseudorissoina perexiguus...
Tate & May, 1900 - Ugartea Bartsch, 1917
Shell description
The shell of these snails has a blunt, heterostrophic protoconchProtoconch
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...
, which is often pointed sideways or wrapped up. Most species in the subfamily have shells which are smaller than 13 mm. The texture of these shells is most often smooth but sometimes sculptured
Sculpture (mollusc)
The sculpture of a mollusc shell is the three-dimensional ornamentation on the outer surface, as distinct from the basic shape of the shell itself or colouration. Sculpture may be concave as well as convex. Sometimes it has microscopic detail. Sculpture refers to the calcareous outer layer, not the...
in various forms such as ribs and spirals. Their color is mostly white, cream or yellowish, sometimes with red or brown lines. The teleoconch is dextrally coiled, but the larva
Larva
A larva is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle...
l shells are sinistral. This results in a sinistrally coiled protoconch. The columella has usually one, but sometimes several, spiral folds
Plait (gastropod)
A plait is an anatomical feature which is present the shells of some snails, or gastropods. This sculpture occurs often in the shells of marine gastropod mollusks in the clade Neogastropoda, but it is also found in some pulmonate land snails....
. 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 closed by an 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...
.
Life habits
The Odostomiinae are ectoparasites, feeding mainly on other molluscs and on annelid wormWorm
The term worm refers to an obsolete taxon used by Carolus Linnaeus and Jean-Baptiste Lamarck for all non-arthropod invertebrate animals, and stems from the Old English word wyrm. Currently it is used to describe many different distantly-related animals that typically have a long cylindrical...
s, but some are known to feed on peanut worms and crustacean
Crustacean
Crustaceans form a very large group of arthropods, usually treated as a subphylum, which includes such familiar animals as crabs, lobsters, crayfish, shrimp, krill and barnacles. The 50,000 described species range in size from Stygotantulus stocki at , to the Japanese spider crab with a leg span...
s.
They do not have a 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...
. Instead their long proboscis
Proboscis
A proboscis is an elongated appendage from the head of an animal, either a vertebrate or an invertebrate. In simpler terms, a proboscis is the straw-like mouth found in several varieties of species.-Etymology:...
is used to pierce the skin of its prey and suck up its fluids and soft tissues. The eyes on the grooved tentacles are situated toward the base of the tentacles. Between the head and the foot, a lobed process called the mentum
Mentum
The mentum refers to a projecting structure near the mouth of any of several animals:#In insects, the mentum is the distal part of the labium. The mentum bears the palps, glossae, paraglossae, and/or ligula....
( = thin projection) is visible. These molluscs are hermaphrodite
Hermaphrodite
In biology, a hermaphrodite is an organism that has reproductive organs normally associated with both male and female sexes.Many taxonomic groups of animals do not have separate sexes. In these groups, hermaphroditism is a normal condition, enabling a form of sexual reproduction in which both...
s.