Pupilloidea

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Pupilloidea
Vallonia pulchella.jpg
A live Vallonia pulchella (Valloniidae)
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subcohort: Panpulmonata
Superorder: Eupulmonata
Order: Stylommatophora
Suborder: Helicina
Infraorder: Pupilloidei
Superfamily: Pupilloidea
Turton, 1831
Families

See text

Synonyms
  • Achatinelloidea Gulick, 1873
  • Cionelloidea L. Pfeiffer, 1879 ·
  • Cochlicopoidea Pilsbry, 1900 (1879)
  • Enoidea B. B. Woodward, 1903 (1880)
  • Orculoidea Pilsbry, 1918 ·
  • Partuloidea Pilsbry, 1900
  • Vertiginoidea Fitzinger, 1833

Pupilloidea is a superfamily of small and very small air-breathing land snails, terrestrial gastropods in the infraorder Pupilloidei . [1]

Contents

They are diverse in morphology, habitat, and ecological roles.

Description

They are characterized by their small, often cylindrical, ovate, or elongate shells. Their shells can range from smooth to ribbed or striated. They are generally tiny, ranging from a few millimeters to about a centimeter in length. The aperture often has denticles (teeth) or lamellae, which may play roles in predator deterrence or structural support. The margin of the aperture often features a well-defined peristome, sometimes thickened or reflected.

Distribution

Species in this superfamily are cosmopolitan, found on every continent except Antarctica. They can be found in dry and arid regions to temperate forests and even tropical zones.

Taxonomy

This superfamily contains the following families: [1]

Synonyms

References

  1. 1 2 Bouchet, Philippe; Rocroi, Jean-Pierre; Frýda, Jiri; Hausdorf, Bernard; Ponder, Winston; Valdés, Ángel & Warén, Anders (2005). "Classification and nomenclator of gastropod families". Malacologia . 47 (1–2). Hackenheim, Germany: ConchBooks: 1–397. ISBN   3-925919-72-4. ISSN   0076-2997.

Further reading