Melongena Temporal range: | |
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A live individual of Melongena corona righting itself by using its operculum | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Mollusca |
Class: | Gastropoda |
Subclass: | Caenogastropoda |
Order: | Neogastropoda |
Superfamily: | Buccinoidea |
Family: | Melongenidae |
Genus: | Melongena Schumacher, 1817 [2] |
Type species | |
Melongena fasciataSchumacher, 1817 | |
Synonyms [3] | |
Galeodes Röding, 1798 (non Olivi, 1791) |
Melongena is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Melongenidae, the crown conches and their allies. [3]
Species within the genus Melongena include: [4]
The shells of Melongena species are extremely variable in shape and sculpture, and historically this has meant that a large number of different forms have been named, creating numerous synonyms.
There is still some disagreement about how many modern species of Melongena actually exist. However, phylogenetic analysis indicate that there are only three species in the Western Atlantic, with all snails in coastal Florida being referred to Melongena corona. [7]
The genus Melongena occurs only in the tropical Americas. It appears that three nominally valid species occur in the tropics of the western Atlantic: one in Florida, one in the Yucatan, and one in Central America and the Caribbean. A fourth species is found on the tropical eastern Pacific coast.
Species within this genus live in the tropical intertidal zone, in muddy areas such as under mangrove trees.
Melongena snails are carnivorous, primarily preying on small bivalves (clams, mussels and oysters). They will also feed on other species of snails and have been known to be cannibalistic. [7]
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.
Strombus is a genus of medium to large sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the family Strombidae, which comprises the true conchs and their immediate relatives. The genus Strombus was named by Swedish Naturalist Carl Linnaeus in 1758. Around 50 living species were recognized, which vary in size from fairly small to very large. Six species live in the greater Caribbean region, including the queen conch, Strombus gigas, and the West Indian fighting conch, Strombus pugilis. However, since 2006, many species have been assigned to discrete genera. These new genera are, however, not yet found in most textbooks and collector's guides.
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.
Neritina, is a genus of small aquatic snails with an operculum in the family Neritidae, the nerites. They are as well marine, as brackish water, and sometimes freshwater gastropod mollusks
Vasum, common name the vase snails or vase shells, is a genus of mostly rather large predatory sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the subfamily Vasinae within the family Turbinellidae.
Cochliopidae is a family of small freshwater snails with gills and an operculum, aquatic gastropod mollusks.
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.
Cymatium is a genus of small to large predatory sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Cymatiidae.
Pugilina is a genus of large sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Melongenidae, the crown conches and their allies.
Voluta is a genus of medium to large sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the family Volutidae, the volutes.
Bufonaria is a genus of medium-large sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the family Bursidae, the "frog snails".
Melongena corona, common name the Florida crown conch, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Melongenidae, the crown conches and their allies.
Modulus is a genus of small sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the family Modulidae.
Volema pyrum is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Melongenidae, the crown conches and their allies.
Volema is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the family Melongenidae, the crown conches and their allies.
Leucozonia is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Fasciolariidae, the spindle snails, the tulip snails and their allies.
Ranularia is a genus of predatory sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Cymatiidae.
Onobops is a genus of very small aquatic snails, operculate gastropod mollusks in the family Cochliopidae or in the Hydrobiidae.
Turrilatirus is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the subfamily Fasciolariinae of the family Fasciolariidae, the spindle snails, the tulip snails and their allies.
Phalium, common name the bonnet shells, is a genus of large sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the subfamily Phaliinae of the family Cassidae, the helmet shells, bonnet shells and their allies.