Vexilla (gastropod)

Not to be confused with Vexillum (gastropod).

Vexilla
Vexilla vexillum
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Gastropoda
Subclass:	Caenogastropoda
Order:	Neogastropoda
Superfamily:	Muricoidea
Family:	Muricidae
Subfamily:	Rapaninae
Genus:	Vexilla Swainson, 1840
Type species
Vexilla pictaSwainson, 1840
Synonyms [1]
Provexillum Hedley, 1918

Vexilla is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails. ^[1]

Description

The shell is purpuriform. The inner lip is flattened and depressed. The outer lip, when adult, is thickened, inflected, and toothed. The aperture is wide. ^[2]

Species

Species within the genus Vexilla include:

• Vexilla taeniata (Powis, 1835) ^[3]
• Vexilla vexillum (Gmelin, 1791) ^[4]

Synonyms

• Vexilla (Usilla)H. Adams, 1861: synonym of Usilla H. Adams, 1861 (original rank)
• Vexilla fusconigraPease, 1860: synonym of Usilla avenacea (Lesson, 1842)
• Vexilla lineataA. Adams, 1854: synonym of Vexilla vexillum (Gmelin, 1791)
• Vexilla pictaSwainson, 1840: synonym of Vexilla vexillum (Gmelin, 1791)
• Vexilla thaanumiPilsbry, 1921: synonym of Vexilla vexillum (Gmelin, 1791) (original combination)
• Vexilla variabilis(Deshayes, 1863): ^[5] synonym of Cronia avenacea(Lesson, 1842): synonym of Usilla avenacea (Lesson, 1842)

References

1. Vexilla Swainson, 1840 . Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species  on 25 April 2010.
2. Adams, H. & Adams, A. (1853-1858). The genera of Recent Mollusca; arranged according to their organization. London, van Voorst. Vol. 1: xl + 484 pp.; vol. 2: 661 pp.; vol. 3: 138 pls
3. Vexilla taeniata (Powis, 1835) . Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species  on 25 April 2010.
4. Vexilla vexillum (Gmelin, 1791) . Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species  on 25 April 2010.
5. Vexilla variabilis (Deshayes, 1863) . Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species  on 25 April 2010.

• Claremont, M., Vermeij, G. J., Williams, S. T. & Reid, D. G. (2013). Global phylogeny and new classification of the Rapaninae (Gastropoda: Muricidae), dominant molluscan predators on tropical rocky seashores. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 66: 91–102

External links

• Swainson, W. (1840). A treatise on malacology; or the natural classification of shells and shell-fish. Longman, London, viii + 419 pp
• Hedley, C. (1918). A checklist of the marine fauna of New South Wales. Part 1. Journal and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New South Wales. 51: M1-M120.