Capulidae

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Capulidae
Capulus ungaricus 001.jpg
Two shells of Capulus ungaricus with the periostracum removed
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Caenogastropoda
Order: Littorinimorpha
Superfamily: Capuloidea
Family: Capulidae
Fleming, 1822
Genera

See text

Synonyms
  • Trichotropidae Gray, 1850
  • Verenidae Gray, 1857 (inv.)
  • Pileopsidae Chenu, 1859
  • Lippistidae Iredale, 1924
  • Siriidae Iredale, 1931
  • Cerithhiodermatidae Hacobjan, 1976

The Capulidae, the cap snails or cap shells, are a taxonomic family of limpet-like sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs. [1]

Contents

Capulidae is the only family in the superfamily Capuloidea. Capulidae is assigned to the paraphyletic order Littorinimorpha, [1] but is more closely related to neogastropods than some other littorinimorphs as it is a member of the clade Latrogastropoda. [2]

The name Trichotropidae was previously used for this family, but this name is invalid, as it is a junior synonym. [3]

Characteristics

(Original description; described as Capulusidae) The foot is complicated on its anterior margin. The shell adheres to the animal by a circular muscle, leaving an opening in front for the issue of the head and the entrance to the branchial cavity. The gills form a single ridge across the roof. The aperture is in the form of an extended proboscis, with a deep groove above. The tentacula, which are two in number, have the eyes at their external base. The anus is on the right side of the branchial cavity. [4]

Cup-shaped or bonnet-like, the shells of this family start with flat, tightly coiled initial whorls. From this beginning, they expand rapidly in a planospiral way, flaring out dramatically like a funnel.

The interior of the shell is porcelaneous. Some forms develop internal partitions or septa, a feature that makes them superficially resemble the Calyptraeidae (slipper limpets). Externally, the shell is covered by a thick periostracum that feels either felt-like or hairy. There is no operculum.

Species in this family are parasites, praying mostly on other molluscs. They steal the food from these animals with a long proboscis.

Genera

Genera within the family Capulidae include: [5]

Subfamily Capulinae J. Fleming, 1822
Subfamily † Lysinae Saul & Squires, 2008
Genera brought into synonymy

References

  1. 1 2 Gofas, S. (2012). Capulidae. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=139 on 2012-07-24
  2. ↑ Colgan, Donald J.; Ponder, Winston F. (2025-07-28). "Redefining Latrogastropoda Again and Searching for Its Sister Group in Hypsogastropoda (Gastropoda: Caenogastropoda)". Diversity. 17 (8): 524. Bibcode:2025Diver..17..524C. doi: 10.3390/d17080524 . ISSN   1424-2818.
  3. ↑ ITIS Capulidae Fleming, 1822
  4. ↑ Fleming, J. (1822). "The philosophy of zoology: or a general view of the structure, functions and classification of animals". Edinburgh. 2: 494. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
  5. ↑ Gofas, S. (2010). Capulidae. In: Bouchet, P.; Gofas, S.; Rosenberg, G. (2010) World Marine Mollusca database. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.eu/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=139 on 2010-06-06
  6. ↑ Kiel S. (2003) New taxonomic data for the gastropod fauna of the Umzamba Formation (Santonian–Campanian, South Africa); Cretaceous Research 24 (2003) 449–475


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