Ficidae

Last updated

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

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

The Clionidae are a family of sea angels, which are a group of pelagic marine gastropods.

<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.

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

Neritidae, common name the nerites, is a taxonomic family of small to medium-sized saltwater and freshwater snails which have a gill and a distinctive operculum.

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

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".

<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.

<i>Spectamen</i> Genus of gastropods

Spectamen is a genus of small sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the family Solariellidae within the superfamily Trochoidea.

<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">Costellariidae</span> Family of sea snails

Costellariidae sometimes called the "ribbed miters" is a taxonomic family of minute to medium-sized predatory sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks. This family of snails is also sometimes referred to as Vexillum miters. The main family of miter shells however is Mitridae, a closely related group.

<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>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 investigatoris 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.

Obtortionidae is a family of sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the superfamily Cerithioidea, that is within the clade Cerithimorpha or in clade Sorbeoconcha.

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