Conoidea
Encyclopedia
Conoidea is a superfamily
of predatory sea snail
s, 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 (Puillandre et al. 2008). This superfamily includes the turrids
, the terebras
(also known as auger snails or auger shells) and the cones or cone snails. The phylogenetic relationships within this superfamily are poorly established. Several families (especially the Turridae
), subfamilies and genera are thought to be polyphyletic.
In contrast to Puillandre's estimate, Bandyopadhyay et al. (2008) estimated that the superfamily Conoidea contains about 10,000 species. Tucker (2004) even speaks of 11,350 species in the group of taxa commonly referred to as turrids. 3000 recent taxa are potentially valid species. Little more than half of the known taxa are fossil species. Many species are little known and need more investigation to find their exact systematic place.
The superfamily is known for its toxoglossan radula
, which is used to inject powerful neurotoxin
s into its prey; within the superfamily there are four somewhat different varieties of radula.
The radula types are as follows:
In 2011, a new classification of this superfamily was published by Bouchet et al.
This same classification was accepted by Bouchet & Rocroi in 2005
New classification (2011)
This classification was thoroughly changed by the publication in 2011 of the article Bouchet P., Kantor Yu.I., Sysoev A. & Puillandre N. (2011) A new operational classification of the Conoidea. Journal of Molluscan Studies 77: 273–308. The authors presented a new classification of the Conoidea on the genus level, based on anatomical characters but also on the molecular phylogeny
as presented by Puillandre N., et al., 2008 . They recognize fifteen families: Conidae, Terebridae
, and the polyphyletic family Turridae
resolved into 13 monophyletic families (containing 358 currently recognized genera and subgenera). The authors follow tentatively the classification for the family Conidae as presented by Tucker & Tenorio, 2009 who divided the monospecific family Conidae into 82 genera. However, there is no final opinion on this issue yet, as a new molecular phylogeny of the Conidae is in preparation. There are a number of genera within the Conoidea that could not be assigned to any family.
Recognized Families in the Conoidea (as of 2011):
Taxonomic rank
In biological classification, rank is the level in a taxonomic hierarchy. Examples of taxonomic ranks are species, genus, family, and class. Each rank subsumes under it a number of less general categories...
of predatory 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 within the suborder Hypsogastropoda
Hypsogastropoda
According to the Taxonomy of the Gastropoda Hypsogastropoda is a clade of parasitic marine gastropods within the clade Caenogastropoda....
. 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 (Puillandre et al. 2008). This superfamily includes the turrids
Turridae
Turridae, , is a large taxonomic family of predatory sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks, that vary in size from minute to moderately large. With more than 4,000 species, the Turridae is the largest mollusk family and group of marine caenogastropods...
, the terebras
Terebridae
The Terebridae, commonly referred to as auger shells or auger snails, are a group or taxonomic family of small to large predatory sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks....
(also known as auger snails or auger shells) and the cones or cone snails. The phylogenetic relationships within this superfamily are poorly established. Several families (especially the Turridae
Turridae
Turridae, , is a large taxonomic family of predatory sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks, that vary in size from minute to moderately large. With more than 4,000 species, the Turridae is the largest mollusk family and group of marine caenogastropods...
), subfamilies and genera are thought to be polyphyletic.
In contrast to Puillandre's estimate, Bandyopadhyay et al. (2008) estimated that the superfamily Conoidea contains about 10,000 species. Tucker (2004) even speaks of 11,350 species in the group of taxa commonly referred to as turrids. 3000 recent taxa are potentially valid species. Little more than half of the known taxa are fossil species. Many species are little known and need more investigation to find their exact systematic place.
The superfamily is known for its toxoglossan 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...
, which is used to inject powerful neurotoxin
Neurotoxin
A neurotoxin is a toxin that acts specifically on nerve cells , usually by interacting with membrane proteins such as ion channels. Some sources are more general, and define the effect of neurotoxins as occurring at nerve tissue...
s into its prey; within the superfamily there are four somewhat different varieties of radula.
The radula types are as follows:
- Type 1 Drilliidae type: five teeth in each row with comb-like lateral teeth and flat-pointed marginal teeth
- Type 2 Turridae type: two or three teeth in a row with the marginal teeth being of the duplex or wishbone form.
- Type 3 Pseudomelatomidae type: two or three teeth in a row with curved and solid marginal teeth.
- Type 4 hypodermic type: two hollow, enrolled, marginal teeth in each row with an absent or reduced radular membrane.
In 2011, a new classification of this superfamily was published by Bouchet et al.
Families
Families and subfamilies within the superfamily Conoidea include according to Taylor, et al. 1993- ClavatulidaeClavatulidaeClavatulidae is a taxonomic family of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the superfamily Conoidea.The family is not well differentiated morphologically....
Clay, 1853 - Conidae Rafinesque, 1815
-
- ConinaeConinaeConinae, common names the cone snails, cone shells or cones is a subfamily of small to quite large sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Conidae.These are sophisticated predatory animals...
– cone snails - ClathurellinaeClathurellinaeClathurellinae was a subfamily of small to quite large sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Conidae.In 2011 this subfamily was split into three new families: Borsoniidae, Mitromorphidae and Clathurellidae - Genera :...
- ConorbiinaeConorbiinaeConorbiinae 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...
- MangeliinaeMangeliinaeMangeliidae is a monophyletic family of small to medium-sized sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the superfamily Conoidea. Bouchet, Kantor et al. elevated in 2011 the subfamily Mangeliinae together with subfamily Oenopitinae to the rank of family...
- OenopotinaeOenopotinaeOenopotinae is a subfamily of small to medium sized sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Conidae.-Description:The Oenopotinae are characterized by a thin, elongate-ovate to fusiform shell in the form of a tall spire with a size between 4.7mm and 24.5 mm. They show a present,...
- RaphitominaeRaphitominaeRaphitominae is a subfamily of small to quite large sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Conidae.-Genera:* Acrobela Thiele, 1925* Bellardiella Tapparone Canefri, 1883* Buccinaria Kittl, 1887* Daphnella Hinds, 1844...
- Coninae
-
- DrilliidaeDrilliidaeDrilliidae is a taxonomic family of small sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the superfamily Conoidea.This family has no subfamilies.-Description:...
Olsson, 1964 - PseudomelatomidaePseudomelatomidaePseudomelatomidae is a family of predatory sea snails, marine gastropods included in the superfamily Conoidea and part of the Neogastropoda...
Morrison, 1964 - StrictispiridaeStrictispiridaeStrictispiridae is a taxonomic family sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks.This family has no subfamilies.- Genera :Genera in the family Strictispiridae include:*Cleospira McLean, 1971** Cleospira bicolor...
McLean, 1971 - TerebridaeTerebridaeThe Terebridae, commonly referred to as auger shells or auger snails, are a group or taxonomic family of small to large predatory sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks....
Mörch, 1852 – auger shells - TurridaeTurridaeTurridae, , is a large taxonomic family of predatory sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks, that vary in size from minute to moderately large. With more than 4,000 species, the Turridae is the largest mollusk family and group of marine caenogastropods...
H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853 (1838) – turrids
This same classification was accepted by Bouchet & Rocroi in 2005
New classification (2011)
This classification was thoroughly changed by the publication in 2011 of the article Bouchet P., Kantor Yu.I., Sysoev A. & Puillandre N. (2011) A new operational classification of the Conoidea. Journal of Molluscan Studies 77: 273–308. The authors presented a new classification of the Conoidea on the genus level, based on anatomical characters but also on the 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...
as presented by Puillandre N., et al., 2008 . They recognize fifteen families: Conidae, Terebridae
Terebridae
The Terebridae, commonly referred to as auger shells or auger snails, are a group or taxonomic family of small to large predatory sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks....
, and the polyphyletic family Turridae
Turridae
Turridae, , is a large taxonomic family of predatory sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks, that vary in size from minute to moderately large. With more than 4,000 species, the Turridae is the largest mollusk family and group of marine caenogastropods...
resolved into 13 monophyletic families (containing 358 currently recognized genera and subgenera). The authors follow tentatively the classification for the family Conidae as presented by Tucker & Tenorio, 2009 who divided the monospecific family Conidae into 82 genera. However, there is no final opinion on this issue yet, as a new molecular phylogeny of the Conidae is in preparation. There are a number of genera within the Conoidea that could not be assigned to any family.
Recognized Families in the Conoidea (as of 2011):
- ClavatulidaeClavatulidaeClavatulidae is a taxonomic family of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the superfamily Conoidea.The family is not well differentiated morphologically....
- DrilliidaeDrilliidaeDrilliidae is a taxonomic family of small sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the superfamily Conoidea.This family has no subfamilies.-Description:...
- PseudomelatomidaePseudomelatomidaePseudomelatomidae is a family of predatory sea snails, marine gastropods included in the superfamily Conoidea and part of the Neogastropoda...
- HoraiclavidaeHoraiclavidaeHoraiclavidae is a family of predatory sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the superfamily Conoidea.- Genera :Genera within the family Horaiclavidae include:* Anacithara Hedley, 1922* Anguloclavus Shuto, 1983...
- StrictispiridaeStrictispiridaeStrictispiridae is a taxonomic family sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks.This family has no subfamilies.- Genera :Genera in the family Strictispiridae include:*Cleospira McLean, 1971** Cleospira bicolor...
- TerebridaeTerebridaeThe Terebridae, commonly referred to as auger shells or auger snails, are a group or taxonomic family of small to large predatory sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks....
- TurridaeTurridaeTurridae, , is a large taxonomic family of predatory sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks, that vary in size from minute to moderately large. With more than 4,000 species, the Turridae is the largest mollusk family and group of marine caenogastropods...
- CochlespiridaeCochlespiridaeCochlespiridae is a taxonomic family of predatory sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the superfamily Conoidea.This family is not well differentiated morphologically, and there is poor congruence between the molecular and shell characters. Its limits are uncertain...
- BorsoniidaeBorsoniidaeBorsoniidae is a monophyletic family of small to medium-sized sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the superfamily Conoidea.In 2011, Bouchet, Kantor et al...
- Mitromorphidae
- ClathurellidaeClathurellidaeClathurellidae is a monophyletic family of small to medium-sized sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the superfamily Conoidea.- 2005 taxonomy :...
- Conidae
- ConorbidaeConorbidaeConorbidae is a monophyletic family of small to medium-sized sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the superfamily Conoidea.In 2009, John K. Tucker and Manuel J. Tenorio elevated the subfamily Conorbiinae to the rank of family...
- Raphitomidae
- Mangeliidae
Further reading
- Kantor Y. I. & Taylor J. D. (2000). "Formation of marginal radular teeth in Conoidea (Neogastropoda) and the evolution of the hypodermic envenomation mechanism". Journal of ZoologyJournal of ZoologyThe Journal of Zoology is a scientific journal concerning zoology, the study of animals. It was founded in 1830 by the Zoological Society of London and is published by Wiley-Blackwell. It carries original research papers, which are targeted towards general readers...
252(2): 251–262. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.2000.tb00620.x