Ficidae | |
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The shell of Ficus gracilis | |
Scientific classification | |
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 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]
The family is found worldwide, mostly in tropical and subtropical silt and mud covered neritic zones.
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 within the family Ficidae include:
The Clionidae are a family of sea angels, which are a group of pelagic marine gastropods.
Pyramidellinae is a taxonomic subfamily of minute sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Pyramidellidae, the pyrams and their allies.
Trimusculus is a genus of medium-sized air-breathing sea snails or false limpets, marine pulmonate gastropod molluscs in the family Trimusculidae.
Hipponicidae, common name hoof shells or hoof snails, is a family of small sea snails, limpet-like marine gastropod molluscs in the superfamily Vanikoroidea.
Amathinidae, is a taxonomic family mostly consisting of small and minute sea snails, marine heterobranch gastropod molluscs or micromolluscs in the superfamily Pyramidelloidea.
Lottiidae is a family of sea snails, specifically true limpets, marine gastropod mollusks in the superfamily Lottioidea and the clade Patellogastropoda.
Solariellidae is a family of small sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the superfamily Trochoidea.
Liotiidae is a family of small sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the clade Vetigastropoda.
Ficus gracilis is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Ficidae, the fig shells.
Ficus is a genus of large sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Ficidae, the fig shells.
Ptychatractidae is a taxonomic family of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the superfamily Turbinelloidea.
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.
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.
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.
Ficus papyratia is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Ficidae, the fig shells.
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.
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.
Cheilea is a genus of small limpet-like sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Hipponicidae, the hoof snails.