Ficidae

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Ficidae
Ficus gracilis.jpg
The shell of Ficus gracilis
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Caenogastropoda
Order: Littorinimorpha
Superfamily: Ficoidea
Meek, 1864 (1840)
Family: Ficidae
Meek, 1864 (1840)
Synonyms

Pyrullinae Swainson, 1840
Sycotypidae Gray, 1853
Ficulidae Carpenter, 1857
Thalassocyonidae F. Riedel, 1895.

Contents

Ficidae, common name the fig shells are a family of medium to large marine gastropods. It is the only family in the superfamily Ficoidea.

According to taxonomy of the Gastropoda by Bouchet & Rocroi (2005) the family Ficidae has no subfamilies.

The shells of these snails are shaped rather like figs or pears, hence the common name.

The Ficidae were previously included in the Tonnaceae (now Tonnoidea) along with the Tonnidae and Cassididae. [1] [2]

Distribution

The family is found worldwide, mostly in tropical and subtropical silt and mud covered neritic zones.

Shell description

The shells of species in the Ficidae are thin but strong. They have a large aperture and a long siphonal canal, but an extremely low spire which does not protrude above the outline of the body whorl.

Fig shells very often have subdued spiral ribbing, and are subtly patterned in shades of very pale brown and beige.

Genera

Genera within the family Ficidae include:

Genera brought into synonymy

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pyramidellinae</span> Subfamily of sea snails

Pyramidellinae is a taxonomic subfamily of minute sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Pyramidellidae, the pyrams and their allies.

<i>Trimusculus</i> Genus of gastropods

Trimusculus is a genus of medium-sized air-breathing sea snails or false limpets, marine pulmonate gastropod molluscs in the family Trimusculidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hipponicidae</span> Family of gastropods

Hipponicidae, common name hoof shells or hoof snails, is a family of small sea snails, limpet-like marine gastropod molluscs in the superfamily Vanikoroidea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amathinidae</span> Family of gastropods

Amathinidae, is a taxonomic family mostly consisting of small and minute sea snails, marine heterobranch gastropod molluscs or micromolluscs in the superfamily Pyramidelloidea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lottiidae</span> Family of gastropods

Lottiidae is a family of sea snails, specifically true limpets, marine gastropod mollusks in the superfamily Lottioidea and the clade Patellogastropoda.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Solariellidae</span> Family of gastropods

Solariellidae is a family of small sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the superfamily Trochoidea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Liotiidae</span> Family of gastropods

Liotiidae is a family of small sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the clade Vetigastropoda.

<i>Ficus gracilis</i> Species of gastropod

Ficus gracilis is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Ficidae, the fig shells.

<i>Ficus</i> (gastropod) Genus of sea snails

Ficus is a genus of large sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Ficidae, the fig shells.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ptychatractidae</span> Family of gastropods

Ptychatractidae is a taxonomic family of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the superfamily Turbinelloidea.

<i>Pleuroploca</i> Genus of gastropods

Pleuroploca is a genus of very large predatory sea snails with an operculum, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Fasciolariidae, which includes the spindle shells, the tulip shells and other allied genera.

<i>Glossaulax</i> Genus of Gastropoda

Glossaulax is a genus of large sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Naticidae, the moon snails.

Ficus eospila is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Ficidae, the fig shells.

<i>Ficus ficus</i> Species of gastropod

Ficus ficus or the paper fig shell is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Ficidae, the fig shells.

Ficus filosus, common name: the threaded fig shell, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Ficidae, the fig shells.

<i>Ficus papyratia</i> Species of gastropod

Ficus papyratia is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Ficidae, the fig shells.

<i>Ficus variegata <span style="font-style:normal;">(gastropod)</span></i> Species of gastropod

Ficus variegata, common name the true fig shell, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Ficidae, the fig shells.

<i>Ficus ventricosa</i> Species of gastropod

Ficus ventricosus, common name the swollen fig shell, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Ficidae, the fig shells.

<i>Cheilea</i> Genus of gastropods

Cheilea is a genus of small limpet-like sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Hipponicidae, the hoof snails.

References

  1. Keen, A.Myra 1958; Sea Shells of Tropical West America, Stanford University Press.
  2. Moore, Lalicker, and Fischer 1952; Invertebrate Fossils, McGraw-Hill Book.
  3. WoRMS (2009). Ficus Röding, 1798. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=205605 on 2010-05-20
  4. "Austroficopsis". The Paleobiology Database, accessed 20 May 2010.
  5. "Ficopsis". The Paleobiology Database, accessed 20 May 2010.
  6. "Fusoficula". The Paleobiology Database, accessed 20 May 2010.
  7. "Gonysycon". The Paleobiology Database, accessed 20 May 2010.
  8. WoRMS (2010). Thalassocyon Barnard, 1960. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=447827 on 2010-05-20

Further reading