| Velutinidae | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Coriocella hibyae in Maldives. | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Subclass: | Caenogastropoda |
| Order: | Littorinimorpha |
| Superfamily: | Velutinoidea |
| Family: | Velutinidae Gray, 1840 |
| Genera | |
See text | |
| Synonyms | |
Lamellariidae d’Orbigny, 1841 | |
Velutinidae is a family of small sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the clade Littorinimorpha. [1] [2] [3]
The length of the shell varies between 25 m mand 40 mm. [4]
The shell of these animals is very thin and delicate, and internal, completely covered by the mantle (which has fused lobes) so the appearance of these animals more closely resembles that of dorid sea slugs rather than sea snails, but anatomically quite different. They are readily distinguished by the anterior siphon and typically snail-like, tentacle-bearing head beneath the anterior mantle. There are no rhinophores (chemosensory tentacles) or dorsal circlet of gills.
The shell is present but is completely internal. It is covered by a fleshy mantle. The ventral surface features a distinct foot and a head bearing tentacles with basal eyes. The anterior of the dorsal surface (notum) is indented along the midline, forming a short siphon. The mantle is relatively firm but has a somewhat gelatinous texture, appearing mostly smooth. The internal shell resembles an ear, being thin and fragile. [4]
The colour is translucent, greyish-white to pinkish or yellow with black/brown spots and blotches. This colouration is variable, resembling that of the ascidian prey on which they live and feed and thus providing camouflage. [4]
The following two subfamilies were recognized in the taxonomy of Bouchet & Rocroi (2005): [1]
 |  |
Genera within the family Velutinidae include:
Subfamily Lamellariinae A. D. d'Orbigny, 1841
Subfamily Velutininae Gray, 1840
Littorinimorpha is a large order of snails, gastropods, consisting primarily of sea snails, but also including some freshwater snails and land snails.
Neritoidea is a taxonomic superfamily of mostly sea snails, nerites and their allies, marine gastropod mollusks in the order Cycloneritida.
Planaxidae, commonly called planaxids or clusterwinks, are a taxonomic family of small and minute sea snails, pantropical marine gastropod molluscs in the superfamily Cerithioidea. They live on rocky shores in the littoral zone of the tropics and subtropics.
Lamellariinae is a subfamily of small slug-like sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs belonging to the family Velutinidae, in the order Littorinimorpha.
Eucyclidae is a family of gastropods in the superfamily Seguenzioidea.
Neocyclotidae is a family of tropical land snails with gills and an operculum, terrestrial gastropod mollusks in the informal group Architaenioglossa belonging to the clade Caenogastropoda.
Tergipedidae is a family of sea slugs, aeolid nudibranchs, marine gastropod molluscs in the superfamily Fionoidea.
Cylichnidae, common name the "chalice bubble snails" or "canoe bubble snails" is a family of sea snails or bubble snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the superfamily Cylichnoidea.
Coreospiridae is an extinct family of Paleozoic molluscs of uncertain position taxonomically. They might be snails (Gastropoda), Helcionelloida, or they might be Monoplacophora.
Velutinoidea is a superfamily of sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the clade Littorinimorpha.
Hermaeidae is a taxonomic family of sacoglossan sea slugs. These are marine opisthobranch gastropod mollusks in the superfamily Plakobranchoidea.
The Zerotulidae comprise a taxonomic family of sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the superfamily Littorinoidea.
The Hyalogyrinidae is a taxonomic family of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the informal group Lower Heterobranchia.
Yochelcionelloidea is an extinct superfamily of paleozoic molluscs of uncertain position. The earliest yochelcionellids are known from the Middle Tommotian, but they are most diverse from the Botomian through the early Middle Cambrian.
Marsenina is a genus of small slug-like sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the subfamily Velutininae within the family Velutinidae.
Colloniidae is a family of small sea snails with calcareous opercula, marine gastropod mollusks in the clade Vetigastropoda.
Velutina is a genus of small sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Velutinidae.
Onchidiopsis is a genus of small slug-like sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the subfamily Lamellariinae within the family Velutinidae.
Piliscus is a genus of small sea snails with transparent internal shells, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Velutinidae. Because the shell is mostly internal, these snails resemble sea slugs in general appearance.
Chromodoridoidea are a taxonomic superfamily of shell-less sea slugs, marine gastropod mollusks included in the clade Nudibranchia.
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