Columbariidae

Taxobox
name = Columbariidae


image_caption =
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Mollusca
classis = Gastropoda
subclassis = Orthogastropoda
superordo = Caenogastropoda
ordo = Sorbeoconcha
subordo = Hypsogastropoda
infraordo = Neogastropoda
superfamilia = Buccinoidea
familia = Columbariidae
familia_authority =
subdivision_ranks = Genera and species
subdivision = See text.

Columbariidae, also known as pagoda shells, are a family of large deepwater sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the order Sorbeoconcha. They are related to the Muricidae, the murex shells. They are sometimes placed within the family Turbinellidae.

Columbariidae are rare and fewer than 30 species are known.

Distribution

Most columbariid species occur world-wide.

Habitat

These are deepwater sea snails.

hell description

The large rather fragile shell has upturned spines on the shoulders of each whorl and a characteristically long siphonal canal. The canal is open all the way to the tip.

They have a chitinous operculum.

Genera and species

* Genus "Columbarium"
** "Columbarium aapta" Harasewych, 1986
** "Columbarium altocanalis" (Dell, 1956)
** "Columbarium atlantis"
** "Columbarium aurora"
** "Columbarium bartletti"
** "Columbarium berthae"
** "Columbarium brayi"
** "Columbarium eastwoodae" Kilburn
** "Columbarium electra"
** "Columbarium harrisae" Harasewych, 1986
** "Columbarium hedleyi"
** "Columbarium hystriculus"
** "Columbarium juliae"
** "Columbarium mariae" (Powell, 1952)
** "Columbarium merope"
** "Columbarium pagoda" Lesson, 1831
** "Columbarium radiale"
** "Columbarium spinicinctum" von Martens, 1881
** "Columbarium spiralis" (A. Adams, 1856)
** "Columbarium veridicum" Dell, 1963
** "Columbarium wormaldi" Powell, 1971
* Genus "Coluzea"
* Genus "Halia"
* Genus "Pusionella"
** "Pusionella aculeiformis"
** "Pusionella milleti"
** "Pusionella nifat"
** "Pusionella vulpina"

References

* Powell A. W. B., "New Zealand Mollusca", William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1979 ISBN 0-00-216906-1
* [http://shells.tricity.wsu.edu/ArcherdShellCollection/Gastropoda/Columbariidae.html]
* [http://www.infochembio.ethz.ch/links/en/zool_weicht_schnecken_columbariidae.html]