The Cantharidinae are a taxonomic subfamily of very small to large sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the family Trochidae, common name top snails.

Originally it was ranked as tribe of the Trochinae, according to the taxonomy of the Gastropoda by Bouchet & Rocroi from 2005, but was elevated to the rank of subfamily following Williams et al.

General characteristics

(Originally described in Latin) The shell is subturreted, smooth, and polished; the aperture is sub-ovate and rather elongate; the whorls are laterally compressed; the pearly layer (nacreous coat) is greenish; and the axis is imperforate.

Genera

Genera brought into synonymy

  • Aphanotrochus Martens, 1880: synonym of Priotrochus P. Fischer, 1879
  • Elenchus Swainson, 1840: synonym of Cantharidus Montfort, 1810
  • Korenia Friele, 1877: synonym of Gibbula Risso, 1826
  • Limax Martyn, 1784: synonym of Cantharidus Montfort, 1810
  • Mawhero Marshall, 1998 synonym of Cantharidus Montfort, 1810
  • Osilinus Philippi, 1847: synonym of Phorcus Risso, 1826
  • Plumbelenchus Finlay, 1926: synonym of Cantharidus Montfort, 1810
  • Scrobiculinus Monterosato, 1889: synonym of Gibbula Risso, 1826
  • Steromphala Gray, 1847: synonym of Gibbula Risso, 1826
  • Strigosella Sacco, 1896: synonym of Scrobiculinus Monterosato, 1889
  • Trochinella Iredale, 1937: synonym of Calliotrochus P. Fischer, 1879
  • Trochocochlea Mörch, 1852: synonym of Phorcus Risso, 1826

External links

  • Stoliczka, F. (1867–1868). . Memoirs of the Geological Survey of India. 5: 3.
  • Bandel, K. (2010). (PDF). Bulletin of Geosciences. 85 (3): 461.
  • Williams, S. T.; Donald, K. M.; Spencer, H. G.; Nakano, T. (2010). . Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 54 (3): 783–809. doi:.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)