Littorina

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Littorina
Littorina littorina.jpg
Two shells of the Common periwinkle, Littorina littorea
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Caenogastropoda
Order: Littorinimorpha
Family: Littorinidae
Subfamily: Littorininae
Genus: Littorina
Férussac, 1822 [1]
Type species
Turbo littoreus
Species

See text.

Synonyms [2]
  • AlgarodaDall, 1918
  • BacaliaH. Adams & A. Adams, 1854
  • BrevilittorinaGolikov, Dolgolenko, Maximovich & Scarlato, 1990
  • CricostomaMørch, 1857
  • EzolittorinaHabe, 1958
  • LitorinaMenke, 1828
  • LittorelaeaLeach, 1847
  • TurbinariusDuméril, 1806

Littorina is a genus of small sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the family Littorinidae, the winkles or periwinkles. [2]

Contents

These small snails live in the tidal zone of rocky shores.

Overview

Anatomy of Littorina Littorina.jpg
Anatomy of Littorina

In Europe there are about nine species in this genus, one of which is the rough periwinkle, Littorina saxatilis (Olivi, 1792). Another closely related (supposed) species Littorina tenebrosa (Montagu 1802) was thought to be distinct because of its different ecological requirements, but current studies have shown that it is not at all clear whether the two are indeed separate species or whether L. tenebrosa is perhaps merely an ecotype (an ecological form) of L. saxatilis. [3]

Littorina has given its name to the Littorina Sea, the geologic precursor of the Baltic Sea.

Distribution

The periwinkles are found on the seashore in the littoral zone and sublittoral zone in all parts of the world. In the Baltic they live within the influence of freshwater, and frequently become distorted in consequence.

Description

The thick, pointed shell is turbinated and has few whorls. The aperture is rounded. The outer lip is acute. The columella is rather flattened and imperforate. The operculum is paucispiral. The lingual teeth are hooked and trilobed. The uncini (small teeth on the radula) are hooked and dentated. [4]

Species

The type species:Turbo littoreus Linnaeus, 1758 restricts the species in this genus to the northern hemisphere, moderate and cold zones. The tropical species belong in other genera of the same family [5]

Species in the genus Littorina include [2]

Species brought into synonymy

Related Research Articles

<i>Bulla</i> (gastropod) Genus of gastropods

Bulla is a genus of medium to large hermaphrodite sea snails, shelled marine opisthobranch gastropod molluscs. These herbivorous snails are in the suborder Cephalaspidea, headshield slugs, and the order Opisthobranchia.

<i>Buccinum</i> Genus of gastropods

Buccinum is a genus of medium-sized sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the family Buccinidae, the true whelks.

<i>Trochus</i> Genus of gastropods

Trochus is a genus of medium-to large-sized, top-shaped sea snails with an operculum, of the family Trochidae, the top snails.

<i>Thais</i> (gastropod) Genus of gastropods

Thais, sometimes known by the common names dog winkles or rock shells, is a genus of medium to large predatory sea snails with an operculum, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Muricidae.

<i>Littoraria</i> Genus of gastropods

Littoraria is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Littorinidae, the winkles or periwinkles.

<i>Littorina saxatilis</i> Species of gastropod

Littorina saxatilis, common name the rough periwinkle, is a species of small sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Littorinidae, the winkles or periwinkles. First identified in the 1700s, it has been misidentified as a new species 112 times.

<i>Turbo</i> (gastropod) Genus of molluscs

Turbo is a genus of large sea snails with gills and an operculum, marine gastropod molluscs in the family Turbinidae, the turban snails.

<i>Bursa</i> (gastropod) Genus of gastropods

Bursa is a genus of large sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the family Bursidae, the frog snails or frog shells.

<i>Polinices</i> Genus of gastropods

Polinices is a genus of predatory sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the subfamily Polinicinae of the family Naticidae, commonly known as moon snails.

<i>Nerita</i> Genus of gastropods

Nerita is a genus of medium-sized to small sea snails with a gill and an operculum, marine gastropod molluscs in the subfamily Neritinae of the family Neritidae, the nerites.

<i>Phasianella</i> Genus of gastropods

Phasianella, common name the pheasant shells, is a genus of small sea snails with a calcareous operculum and a colorfully patterned shell, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Phasianellidae.

<i>Nodilittorina</i> Genus of gastropods

Nodilittorina is a genus of small sea snails. marine gastropod mollusks in the family Littorinidae, the winkles or periwinkles.

Fusus is a genus of small to large sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the family Fasciolariidae, the spindle snails and tulip snails.

<i>Tectarius</i> Genus of gastropods

Tectarius is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Littorinidae, the winkles or periwinkles.

<i>Melarhaphe</i> Genus of gastropods

Melarhaphe is a monotypic genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Littorinidae, the winkles or periwinkles.

References

  1. ↑ Férussac A. É d'A de (1822). H.N. g. et p. Moll., Tabl. gén., xxxiv.
  2. 1 2 3 WoRMS (2011). Littorina Férussac, 1822. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=138135 on 2011-04-15
  3. ↑ Gosling, E.M. (2002). The periwinkle as a model in biodiversity studies: a geneticist's view. in Marine Biodiversity in Ireland and Adjacent Waters. Ulster Museum. publication no. 8
  4. ↑ George Washington Tryon, Structural and systematic conchology, 1882
  5. ↑ Bandel, K. & D. Kadolsky (1982). Western Atlantic Species of Nodolittorina (Gastropda: Prosobranchia): comparative morphology and its functional, ecological, phylogenetic and taxonomic implications. Veliger 25 (1): 1-42.
  6. ↑ S T Williams; D G Reid; D T J Littlewood (2003). "A molecular phylogeny of the Littorininae (Gastropoda: Littorinidae): unequal evolutionary rates, morphological parallelism, and biogeography of the Southern Ocean". Mol Phylogenet Evol. 28 (1): 60–86. doi:10.1016/S1055-7903(03)00038-1. PMID   12801472. Archived from the original on 2012-10-05.
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