Pediculariidae
Encyclopedia
Pediculariidae is a family
of small to large predatory or parasitic sea snail
s, marine
gastropod molluscs in the superfamily Cypraeoidea
, the cowries and the cowry allies. As of 2009, it comprises 48 described species of which 20 are regarded as valid by most scientists.
. Comparison of the shell
, radula
and morphology
suggested a closer phylogenetic relationship to the Pediculariidae than to the Lamellariidae, the Eratoidae/Triviidae
, or the Ovulidae. However, both the validity of the family Pediculariidae, and its proper position within the superfamily Cypraeoidea, remain controversial.
the subfamily Pediculariinae was included within the family Ovulidae
.
e, the shell
, the soft part morphology
and molecular phylogeny research on the 16S ribosomal RNA
gene
.
. While these are symmetrical (and even palmaceous) in the Ovulidae, they are asymmetrical, as can be seen in Pseudocypraea adamsonii Sowerby, 1832 (formed like a swatter) or in Jenneria pustulata
and Pedicularia sicula
(formed like a whip).
) and hydrozoa
ns.
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 to large predatory or parasitic 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 superfamily Cypraeoidea
Cypraeoidea
Cypraeoidea, the cowries and cowry allies, is a superfamily of sea snails, marine gastropods included in the clade Littorinimorpha. This superfamily was previously called Cypraeacea and was named by Rafinesque in 1815.-Shell description:...
, the cowries and the cowry allies. As of 2009, it comprises 48 described species of which 20 are regarded as valid by most scientists.
Taxonomy
Simone (2004) placed some genera in the family Pediculariidae which were previously in the family OvulidaeOvulidae
Ovulidae, common names the ovulids, cowry allies or false cowries, is a family of small to large predatory or parasitic sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the superfamily Cypraeoidea, the cowries and cowry allies.-Distribution:...
. Comparison of the shell
Mollusc shell
The mollusc shell is typically a calcareous exoskeleton which encloses, supports and protects the soft parts of an animal in the phylum Mollusca, which includes snails, clams, tusk shells, and several other classes...
, 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...
and morphology
Morphology (biology)
In biology, morphology is a branch of bioscience dealing with the study of the form and structure of organisms and their specific structural features....
suggested a closer phylogenetic relationship to the Pediculariidae than to the Lamellariidae, the Eratoidae/Triviidae
Triviidae
Triviidae is a taxonomic family of small sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the clade Littorinimorpha.-Taxonomy:The following subfamilies were recognized in the taxonomy of Bouchet & Rocroi in 2005:*Eratoinae Gill, 1871**tribe Eratoini Gill, 1871...
, or the Ovulidae. However, both the validity of the family Pediculariidae, and its proper position within the superfamily Cypraeoidea, remain controversial.
2005 taxonomy
According to the taxonomy of 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 subfamily Pediculariinae was included within the family Ovulidae
Ovulidae
Ovulidae, common names the ovulids, cowry allies or false cowries, is a family of small to large predatory or parasitic sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the superfamily Cypraeoidea, the cowries and cowry allies.-Distribution:...
.
2007 taxonomy
Fehse (2007) raised the subfamily Pediculariinae to the level of family as Pediculariidae, based on morphological research on the radulaRadula
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, the shell
Mollusc shell
The mollusc shell is typically a calcareous exoskeleton which encloses, supports and protects the soft parts of an animal in the phylum Mollusca, which includes snails, clams, tusk shells, and several other classes...
, the soft part morphology
Morphology (biology)
In biology, morphology is a branch of bioscience dealing with the study of the form and structure of organisms and their specific structural features....
and molecular phylogeny research on the 16S ribosomal RNA
16S ribosomal RNA
16S ribosomal RNA is a component of the 30S subunit of prokaryotic ribosomes. It is approximately 1.5kb in length...
gene
Gene
A gene is a molecular unit of heredity of a living organism. It is a name given to some stretches of DNA and RNA that code for a type of protein or for an RNA chain that has a function in the organism. Living beings depend on genes, as they specify all proteins and functional RNA chains...
.
Genera
- PediculariaPediculariaPedicularia is a genus of small predatory or ectoparasitic sea snails, cowry-like marine gastropod molluscs in the family Pediculariidae, the cowry allies.In Peducularia sicula, the protoconch protrudes....
Swainson, 1840 - synonym: Lunovula Rosenberg, 1990 - PseudocypraeaPseudocypraeaPseudocypraea is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Pediculariidae, one of the families of cowry allies.-Species:Species within the genus Pseudocypraea include:* Pseudocypraea adamsonii...
Schilder, 1925 - Jenneria Jousseaume, 1884
- Jenneria pustulataJenneria pustulataJenneria pustulata, common name the Jenner's cowry or pustulated cowry, is a species of small sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Pediculariidae, one of the families of cowry allies.-Description:...
Lightfoot, 1786
- Jenneria pustulata
Description
The species in this family differ in a radical way from the species in the Ovulidae by the morphology of the first and second marginal teeth in their radulaRadula
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...
. While these are symmetrical (and even palmaceous) in the Ovulidae, they are asymmetrical, as can be seen in Pseudocypraea adamsonii Sowerby, 1832 (formed like a swatter) or in Jenneria pustulata
Jenneria pustulata
Jenneria pustulata, common name the Jenner's cowry or pustulated cowry, is a species of small sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Pediculariidae, one of the families of cowry allies.-Description:...
and Pedicularia sicula
Pedicularia sicula
Pedicularia sicula is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Pediculariidae, one of the families of cowry allies....
(formed like a whip).
Feeding habits
These sea snails feed on stony corals (ScleractiniaScleractinia
Scleractinia, also called stony corals, are exclusively marine animals; they are very similar to sea anemones but generate a hard skeleton. They first appeared in the Middle Triassic and replaced tabulate and rugose corals that went extinct at the end of the Permian...
) and hydrozoa
Hydrozoa
Hydrozoa are a taxonomic class of very small, predatory animals which can be solitary or colonial and which mostly live in saltwater. A few genera within this class live in freshwater...
ns.