| Cantharidus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| A shell of Cantharidus opalus opalus | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Subclass: | Vetigastropoda |
| Order: | Trochida |
| Superfamily: | Trochoidea |
| Family: | Trochidae |
| Genus: | Cantharidus Montfort, 1810 [1] |
| Type species | |
| Trochus iris Montfort, P.D. de, 1810 | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Cantharidus, common name the kelp shells, is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs of the family Trochidae, the top shells. [2]
The shell has an ovate-conic or pyramidal shape. It is imperforate, smooth or spirally sculptured outside, brilliantly iridescent within. The colors are generally bright and variegated. The aperture is less than half the length of shell, longer than wide, ovate. The columella is usually more or less folded or toothed near the base. [3]
The central tooth of the radula has a body with broadly expanded supporting wings, a narrowed peduncle or neck, which bears a simple cusp. This peduncle has on each side delicate wings. The lateral teeth number five on each side and have as peculiarity that they increase in size from the inner to the outer one. The inner lateral is slender, narrowed toward the cusp, like the centrals, and (sometimes at any rate) bearing a lamella behind the peduncle. The outer laterals are very broad, with one or several denticles on the cusp. The only character separating Cantharidus from Gibbula is the simple cusp of the central tooth, whilst in Gibbula it is denticulate at the sides. [3]
This genus is composed of marine species with a wide distribution, occurring off Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, French Polynesia, South Korea, Japan, Indonesia, New Caledonia, Oceania, East India, Africa.
The World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) includes the following species with valid names within the genus Cantharidus : [2]
The Indo-Pacific Molluscan Database also mentions the following species with names in current use : [4]
Species and subspecies within the genus Cantharidus include: [5] [6]
Trochus is a genus of medium-to large-sized, top-shaped sea snails with an operculum, of the family Trochidae, the top snails.
Gibbula is a genus of small sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the subfamily Cantharidinae of the family Trochidae, the top snails.
Herpetopoma is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs of the family Chilodontaidae.
Clanculus is a genus of sea snail, marine gastropod molluscs of the family Trochidae, the top shells.
Cantharidus capillaceus is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Trochidae, the top snails.
Micrelenchus is a genus of small sea snails that have shells with pearly interiors and an operculum. They are marine gastropod molluscs in the subfamily Cantharidinae of the family Trochidae, the top snails or top shells.
Roseaplagis caelatus is a species of small sea snail in the family Trochidae, the top shells.
Micrelenchus sanguineus is a species of small sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Trochidae, the top shells.
Austrocochlea is a genus of medium-sized sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the family Trochidae, the top snails, also known as top shells.
Euchelus is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Chilodontaidae.
Jujubinus is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Trochidae, the top snails.
Monilea is a genus of sea snails in the family Trochidae, the top snails.
Monodonta is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Trochidae, the top snails.
Prothalotia is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the subfamily Cantharidinae of the family Trochidae, the top snails.
The Cantharidinae are a taxonomic subfamily of very small to large sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the family Trochidae, common name top snails.
Thalotia is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Trochidae, the top snails.
Micrelenchus huttonii is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Trochidae, the top snails.
Roseaplagis rufozona is a species of sea snail in the family Trochidae, the top snails.
Micrelenchus tenebrosus is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Trochidae, the top snails.
Jujubinus suarezensis is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Trochidae, the top snails.
