Potamididae Temporal range: | |
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A live individual of Terebralia palustris | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Mollusca |
Class: | Gastropoda |
Subclass: | Caenogastropoda |
Superfamily: | Cerithioidea |
Family: | Potamididae H. Adams & A. Adams, 1854 |
Synonyms | |
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Potamididae, common name potamidids (also known as horn snails or mudwhelks) are a family of small to large brackish water snails that live on mud flats, mangroves and similar habitats. [1] They are amphibious gastropod molluscs in the superfamily Cerithioidea.
Traditionally, potamidids and batillariids have been confused because they have similar shells and they live in similar environments. For many fossil taxa the family assignment to either of these two families is still unresolved or controversial. [1]
According to the taxonomy of the Gastropoda by Bouchet & Rocroi (2005) the family Potamididae has no subfamilies. [2]
The distribution of Potamididae includes the Indo-West Pacific, the eastern Pacific and the Atlantic Ocean. [1]
Six living and a number of fossil genera are currently recognized: [1]
Recent genera: [1]
Fossil genera (fossils are difficult to differentiate from other cerithioideans, such as the Batillariidae):
Most of the 29 living species of Potamididae show a close association with mangroves. Most species live on mudflats, but some also climb mangrove trees. [1]
Conidae, with the current common name of "cone snails", is a taxonomic family of predatory sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the superfamily Conoidea.
Ocenebrinae is a taxonomic subfamily of predatory sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks. This subfamily is within the large family Muricidae, which are commonly known as the murex and rock snails.
Rapaninae is a subfamily of predatory sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Muricidae.
Turbinidae, the turban snails, are a family of small to large marine gastropod molluscs in the superfamily Trochoidea.
Calliostomatidae is a family of sea snails within the superfamily Trochoidea and the clade Vetigastropoda.
Muricinae is a taxonomic subfamily of predatory sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks within the large family Muricidae, the murex snails and rock snails.
Mitridae, known as mitres or mitre shells, are a taxonomic family of sea snails, widely distributed marine gastropod molluscs in the clade Mitroidea.
The Nassariidae, Nassa mud snails (US), or dog whelks (UK) are a taxonomic family of small to medium-sized sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the clade Neogastropoda.
Trochoidea is a superfamily of small to very large vetigastropod sea snails with gills and an operculum. Species within this superfamily have nacre as the inner shell layer. The families within this superfamily include the Trochidae, the top snails. This superfamily is the largest vetigastropodan superfamily, containing more than 2,000 species.
Fasciolariidae is a family of small to large sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the superfamily Buccinoidea. Species in Fasciolariidae are commonly known as tulip snails and spindle snails.
The Cerithioidea is a superfamily of marine, brackish water and freshwater gastropod containing more than 200 genera. The Cerithioidea are included unassigned in the subclass Caenogastropoda. The original name of this superfamily was Cerithiacea, in keeping with common superfamily endings at the time.
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.
Clavatulidae is a taxonomic family of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the superfamily Conoidea. The family is not well differentiated morphologically.
Cerithidea is a genus of medium-sized sea snails or mud snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Potamididae, the horn snails.
Pirenella alata is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Potamididae. It also lives in brackish water.
Pirenella microptera is a species of snail, a brackish-water gastropod mollusk in the family Potamididae.
Potamides is a genus of prehistoric sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Potamididae.
The Cantharidinae are a taxonomic subfamily of very small to large sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the family Trochidae, common name top snails.
Pirenella is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Potamididae.
Tegulidae is a family of small to large sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the superfamily Trochoidea.