Turbinellinae Explained

Turbinellinae are a subfamily of large deepwater sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Turbinellidae.^[1]

This subfamily is in the family Turbinellidae within the clade Neogastropoda (according to the taxonomy of the Gastropoda by Bouchet & Rocroi, 2005).

This is a small subfamily with only three genera and some 10 extant species described.

Distribution

Species of this subfamily can be found in the Indian Ocean and in the Caribbean. The species Syrinx aruanus (Linnaeus, 1758), the largest living gastropod, is distributed along the coasts of Western and Northern Australia to Papua New Guinea.

Description

Species in this family have thick-shelled, fusiform shells with conical-shaped whorls. The large body whorl ends in a long siphonal canal. The columella contains three to four plaits.

Genera and species

Genera in the subfamily Turbinellinae include :

• Cryptofusus Beu, 2011
• Syrinx Röding, 1798
• Turbinella Lamarck, 1799

Genus brought into synonymy :

• Buccinella Perry, 1811 : synonym of Turbinella Lamarck, 1799

References

• Vaught, K.C. (1989). A classification of the living Mollusca. American Malacologists: Melbourne, FL (USA). . XII, 195 pp.

Notes and References

1. Bouchet, P. (2011). Turbinellinae. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=23135 on 2011-04-27