Architectonicidae

Taxobox
name = Architectonicidae


image_caption =
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Mollusca
classis = Gastropoda
ordo = Heterobranchia
superfamilia = Architectonocoidea
familia = Architectonicidae
familia_authority = Gray, 1850
subdivision_ranks = Genera
subdivision = See text.
synonyms =

Architectonicidae, or the staircase shells or sundials, are a family of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the informal group "Lower Heterobranchia" (= Allogastropoda) of the clade Heterobranchia.

The extinct families † Amphitomariidae Bandel, 1994 and † Cassianaxidae Bandel, 1996 belong to the same superfamily.

Distribution

Species in this family are found world-wide, in warm seas.

Description

The shells are depressed-conic, , or . The umbilicus is usually wide and perspective, bordered by a strongly crenulated spiral cord, which feature accounts for the common name of staircase shell.

Genera in the family Architectonicidae

* "Architectonica" Röding, 1798
* "Claraxis" Iredale, 1936
* "Discotectonica" Marwick, 1931
* "Heliacus" D'Orbigny, 1842
* "Gyriscus" Tiberi, 1867
* "Mangonuia" Mestayer, 1930
* "Philippia" J. E. Gray, 1847
* "Pseudomalaxis" P. Fischer, 1885
* "Pseudotorinia" Sacco, 1892
* "Psilaxis" Woodring, 1928
* "Solatisonax" Iredale, 1931
* "Spirolaxis" di Monterosato, 1913
* "Zerotula" Finlay, 1927

References

*
* Powell A. W. B., "New Zealand Mollusca", William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1979 ISBN 0-00-216906-1