Cantharidella Explained

Cantharidella is a genus of small sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the subfamily Trochinae of the family Trochidae, the top snails.^[1]

Description

This genus consists of small forms with much the aspect of tiny Cantharidus. They are usually polished, narrowly or not perforate. The shell is conical, and elongated.^[2]

Distribution

This genus of marine species occurs off India, Sri Lanka, the Philippines and Australia (New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia).

Species

Species within the genus Cantharidella include:

• Cantharidella balteata (Philippi, 1849)
• Cantharidella beachportensis Cotton & Godfrey, 1934
• Cantharidella ocellina (Hedley, 1911)
• Cantharidella picturata (A. Adams & Angas, 1864)
• Cantharidella rottnestensis Verco, 1911
• Cantharidella tiberiana (Crosse, 1863)

Species brought into synonymy:

• Cantharidella aurea Tenison-Woods, J.E., 1876: synonym of Cantharidella tiberiana (Crosse, 1863)
• Cantharidella tesselata Tenison-Woods, J.E., 1878: synonym of Cantharidella tiberiana (Crosse, 1863)
• Cantharidella tesselata (A. Adams, 1853): synonym of Cantharidus tessellatus (A. Adams, 1853)

Further reading

• Powell A W B, New Zealand Mollusca, William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1979
• Miller M & Batt G, Reef and Beach Life of New Zealand, William Collins (New Zealand) Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1973

Notes and References

1. WoRMS (2013). Cantharidella Pilsbry, 1889. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=413456 on 2014-01-09
2. https://archive.org/details/manualofconcholo111tryo Tryon (1889), Manual of Conchology XI, Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia