Argyropeza | |
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Argyropeza sp. | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Mollusca |
Class: | Gastropoda |
Subclass: | Caenogastropoda |
Family: | Cerithiidae |
Subfamily: | Bittiinae |
Genus: | Argyropeza Melvill & Standen, 1901 [2] |
Type species | |
Argyropeza divina Melvill & Standen, 1901 | |
Species | |
See text |
Argyropeza is a genus of small deep-sea sea snails in the family Cerithiidae. [1] [3] [4]
The name of this genus is derived from the Greek word arguropeza ("silver foot"), the epithet given by Homer to the sea nymph Thetis.
The genus Argyropeza is closely related to the genus Bittium , but the shells of species in this genus are thinner and more vitreous, and the suture is more deeply impressed. [4] Argyropeza is currently placed in the subfamily Bittiinae with the family Cerithiidae, [3] but various other arrangements have been proposed in the past. It was sometimes assigned to the Litiopidae Gray, 1847 or to the Cerithiinae within Cerithiidae, [4] both belonging to the same superfamily Cerithioidea. The genus has also been placed in Procerithiidae because of its similarity to the fossil genus Crypaulax from the Triassic; [5] this arrangement would let the Argyropeza species considered to be living fossils. [5] According to the Taxonomy of Bouchet & Rocroi (2005) Argyropeza is in the subfamily Cryptaulacinae, within the Procerithiidae. According to Bandel (2006) [6] Argyropeza would be in the then newly described subfamily Argyropezinae Bandel, 2006, within the Procerithiidae. [6]
The snails of this deep-sea genus can be found on the continental slopes and island groups in the Indo-Pacific region (Arabian Sea, Australia, Fiji, Indonesia, Japan, Papua, New Guinea, Vanuatu and South Africa). [4] They are detritivores, obtaining their nutrients from detritus and soft sediment. [4]
They are small snails (6 to 8 mm in length) with a thin, vitreous shell that is elongated and has a pointed spire with a smooth tip. The number of the whorls varies between 9 and 12. The shell is sculptured with low axial ribs. Each whorl is marked by two spiral ribs with sharp nodules. The ovate aperture has a marked siphonal canal and a weak anal canal. The aperture is closed off by a thin, corneous, cerithioid operculum that is multispiral and almost circular. The outer lip is thin. The columella is concave. Their protoconch has 3½ whorls and are sculptured with two spiral lirae. [4]
Until the study of Richard S. Houbrick (1980) [4] almost nothing had been written about the soft parts of these snails. The animal has a long siphon. The cephalic tentacles have the eyes at their base. The taenioglossate radula has a quadrate rachdian tooth, flanked on each side a trapezoidal lateral tooth and two long marginal teeth. Their larvae are pelagic. [4]
Species within the genus Aryropeza are: [3]
The Vermetidae, the worm snails or worm shells, are a taxonomic family of small to medium-sized sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the clade Littorinimorpha. The shells of species in the family Vermetidae are extremely irregular, and do not resemble the average snail shell, hence the common name "worm shells" or "worm snails".
Cerithiidae, common name the cerithiids or ceriths, is a large family of medium-sized marine gastropods in the clade Sorbeoconcha.
The Cerithioidea is a superfamily of marine, brackish water and freshwater gastropod containing more than 200 genera. The Cerithoidea are included unassigned in the subclass Caenogastropoda. The original name of this superfamily was Cerithiacea, in keeping with common superfamily endings at the time.
Crassispira tasconium is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Pseudomelatomidae.
Paradrillia lithoria is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Horaiclavidae, the turrids.
Diaugasma epicharta is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Raphitomidae.
Daphnella evergestis is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Raphitomidae.
Taranidaphne amphitrites is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Raphitomidae.
Taranidaphne nereidum is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Raphitomidae.
Procerithiidae is a taxonomic family of sea snails in the subclass Caenogastropoda. As currently defined, it is extinct, although it has been suggested to include the extant genus Argyropeza.
Argyropeza divina is a species of sea snail in the family Cerithiidae. It occurs in the Indian Ocean and in the western Pacific Ocean.
Argyropeza schepmaniana is a species of sea snail in the family Cerithiidae. It occurs in the Indian and the western Pacific Oceans.
Argyropeza verecunda is a species of sea snail in the family Cerithiidae. It occurs in the Indian and the western Pacific Oceans.
Finella pupoides is a species of small sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Scaliolidae.
Obtortionidae is a family of sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the superfamily Cerithioidea, that is within the clade Cerithimorpha or in clade Sorbeoconcha.
Anacithara is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Horaiclavidae.
Daphnella thia is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Raphitomidae.
Daphnella xylois is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Raphitomidae.
Clathurina receptoria is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Raphitomidae.
Daphnella veneris is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Raphitomidae.
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