Coralliophilinae
Encyclopedia
Coralliophilinae is a taxonomic group, a subfamily
of about 200–250 sea snail
s, marine
gastropod mollusks commonly known as the coral
snails or coral shells. This is a subfamily within the very large family Muricidae
, the murex or rock snails.
According to the taxonomy of the Gastropoda (Bouchet & Rocroi, 2005)
, this group is considered to be a subfamily, the Coralliophilinae, of the family Muricidae
. Prior to the taxonomy of the Gastropoda (Bouchet & Rocroi, 2005)
, the Coralliophilinae was recognized as a distinct family the Coralliophilidae. The subfamily Coralliophilinae is monophyletic, as confirmed by genetic research with molecular markers.
, the deep-water coral banks in the Mediterranean, from the Florida Keys
to Brazil, the Indo-Pacific Region, the southwest Pacific, the Austral Islands
(South Pacific). Such a dispersal of the subfamily can be attributed to oceanic currents and planktotrophic larval development.
These snails are specialist feeders, feeding exclusively on anthozoa
ns by boring into them. A few live between soft corals and anemone
s and use their long and extensible proboscis
to ingest the soft tissue. Some feed on sea fan
s.
Genera brought into synonymy :
Within this subfamily, the systematics at species level is problematic as many adult species show broad intraspecific morphologic variability that also depends on the substrate they live. The morphology of the protoconch
is usually very helpful as a taxonomic character.
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 about 200–250 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 commonly known as the coral
Coral
Corals are marine animals in class Anthozoa of phylum Cnidaria typically living in compact colonies of many identical individual "polyps". The group includes the important reef builders that inhabit tropical oceans and secrete calcium carbonate to form a hard skeleton.A coral "head" is a colony of...
snails or coral shells. This is a subfamily within the very large family 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 or rock snails.
According to the taxonomy of the Gastropoda (Bouchet & Rocroi, 2005)
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...
, this group is considered to be a subfamily, the Coralliophilinae, of the family 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...
. Prior to the taxonomy of the Gastropoda (Bouchet & Rocroi, 2005)
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...
, the Coralliophilinae was recognized as a distinct family the Coralliophilidae. The subfamily Coralliophilinae is monophyletic, as confirmed by genetic research with molecular markers.
Distribution and habitat
The coral snails are coral dwellers that occur worldwide in temperate and tropical seas. They can be found in very diverse places such as the mid-Atlantic seamounts, the Canary IslandsCanary Islands
The Canary Islands , also known as the Canaries , is a Spanish archipelago located just off the northwest coast of mainland Africa, 100 km west of the border between Morocco and the Western Sahara. The Canaries are a Spanish autonomous community and an outermost region of the European Union...
, the deep-water coral banks in the Mediterranean, from the Florida Keys
Florida Keys
The Florida Keys are a coral archipelago in southeast United States. They begin at the southeastern tip of the Florida peninsula, about south of Miami, and extend in a gentle arc south-southwest and then westward to Key West, the westernmost of the inhabited islands, and on to the uninhabited Dry...
to Brazil, the Indo-Pacific Region, the southwest Pacific, the Austral Islands
Austral Islands
The Austral Islands are the southernmost group of islands in French Polynesia, an overseas collectivity of France in the South Pacific. Geographically, they consist of two separate archipelagos, namely in the northwest the Tubuai Islands consisting of the Îles Maria, Rimatara, Rurutu, Tubuai...
(South Pacific). Such a dispersal of the subfamily can be attributed to oceanic currents and planktotrophic larval development.
These snails are specialist feeders, feeding exclusively on anthozoa
Anthozoa
Anthozoa is a class within the phylum Cnidaria that contains the sea anemones and corals. Unlike other cnidarians, anthozoans do not have a medusa stage in their development. Instead, they release sperm and eggs that form a planula, which attaches to some substrate on which the cnidarian grows...
ns by boring into them. A few live between soft corals and anemone
Anemone
Anemone , is a genus of about 120 species of flowering plants in the buttercup family Ranunculaceae in the north and south temperate zones...
s and use their long and extensible 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:...
to ingest the soft tissue. Some feed on sea fan
Sea fan
A gorgonian, also known as sea whip or sea fan, is an order of sessile colonial cnidarian found throughout the oceans of the world, especially in the tropics and subtropics. Gorgonians are similar to the sea pen, another soft coral. Individual tiny polyps form colonies that are normally erect,...
s.
Genera
Genera within the subfamily Coralliophilinae include:- BabelomurexBabelomurexBabelomurex is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails.-Species:Species within the genus Babelomurex include :* Babelomurex armatus Sowerby III, 1912...
Coen, 1922 - CoralliophilaCoralliophilaCoralliophila is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the subfamily Coralliophilinae, the coral snails, within the family Muricidae, the murex snails and rock snails....
H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853 - EmozamiaEmozamiaEmozamia is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the subfamily Coralliophilinae, the coral snails, within the family Muricidae, the murex snails and rock snails....
Iredale, 1929 - HirtomurexHirtomurexHirtomurex is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the subfamily Coralliophilinae, the coral snails, within the family Muricidae, the murex snails and rock snails.-Species:Species within the genus Hirtomurex include:...
Coen, 1922 - LatiaxisLatiaxisLatiaxis is a genus of medium-sized sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Muricidae, subfamily Coralliophilinae, the coral snails or coral shells. -Species:Species within the genus Latiaxis include:* Latiaxis bernardi K...
Swainson, 1840 - LeptoconchusLeptoconchusLeptoconchus is a genus of medium-sized sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Muricidae, subfamily Coralliophilinae, the coral snails or coral shells. -Species:Species within the genus Leptoconchus include:...
Rüppell, 1834 - LiniaxisLiniaxisLiniaxis is a genus of medium-sized sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the subfamily Coralliophilinae, the coral snails, within the family Muricidae, the murex snails and rock snails.-Species:Species within the genus Liniaxis include:...
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...
, 1955 - MagilusMagilusMagilus is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails.This genus was brought by Michel into the separate family Magilidae together with Latiaxis-Species:...
Montfort, 1810 - MipusMipusMipus is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails.-Species:Species within the genus Mipus include:* Mipus alis Oliverio, 2008* Mipus boucheti Oliverio, 2008...
de Gregorio, 1885 - RapaRapa (gastropod)Rapa is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails.-Species:Species within the genus Rapa include:* Rapa bulbiformis Sowerby, 1870* Rapa bulbosa...
Röding, 1798 - RhizochilusRhizochilusRhizochilus is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails.-Species:Species within the genus Rhizochilus include:* Rhizochilus antipathum Steenstrup, 1850...
Steenstrup, 1850
Genera brought into synonymy :
- Aradasia Settepassi, 1970 = synonym of Coralliophila H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853
- Aradomurex Coen, 1947 = synonym of Coralliophila H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853
- Coralliobia H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853 = synonym of Coralliophila H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853
- Echinolatiaxis Kosuge, 1979 = synonym of Babelomurex Coen, 1922
- Fusomurex Coen, 1922 = synonym of Coralliophila H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853
- Laevilatiaxis Kosuge, 1979 = synonym of Babelomurex Coen, 1922
- Lamellatiaxis Habe & Kosuge, 1970 = synonym of Babelomurex Coen, 1922
- Langfordia Dall, 1924 = synonym of Babelomurex Coen, 1922
- Latimurex : synonym of Latiromurex Coen, 1922
- Latiromurex Coen, 1922 = synonym of Coralliophila H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853
- Lepadomurex Coen, 1922 = synonym of Coralliophila H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853
- Magilopsis G.B. Sowerby III, 1919 = synonym of Leptoconchus Rüppell, 1834
- PseudomurexPseudomurexPseudomurex is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails.This genus has become a synonym of Coralliophila H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853-Species:...
Monterosato, 1872 = synonym of Coralliophila H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853 - Quoyula Iredale, 1912 = synonym of Coralliophila H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853
- Rapella Swainson, 1840 = synonym of Rapa Röding, 1798
- Reliquiaecava Massin, 1987 = synonym of Coralliophila H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853
- Rhombothais Woolacott, 1954 = synonym of Coralliophila H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853
- Tarantellaxis Habe, 1970 = synonym of Babelomurex Coen, 1922
- Tolema Iredale, 1929 = synonym of Babelomurex Coen, 1922
Within this subfamily, the systematics at species level is problematic as many adult species show broad intraspecific morphologic variability that also depends on the substrate they live. The morphology of 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 usually very helpful as a taxonomic character.