Calanticomorpha
Calanticomorpha is a clade of marine gastropods, which are commonly called sea snails or slugs. The clade is part of the order Neogastropoda and includes approximately 1,000 species, making it one of the most diverse groups of marine gastropods. It is also a relatively recent clade, with its origin dating back to the Paleocene epoch, roughly 66 million years ago.
Common Names
There are no common names for Calanticomorpha as a whole, although some of its constituent families, such as the Muricidae (murexes), Buccinidae (whelks), and Nassariidae (nassa mud snails), have well-established common names.
Characteristics
Calanticomorpha gastropods exhibit a wide range of characteristics, but there are some features that define them as a group. They typically have a well-developed, coiled shell, although some species, particularly in the family Columbellidae (dove snails), may have reduced or internal shells. Many species have a siphon, a tubular structure that extends from the mantle cavity and is used for respiration and sensing prey. Calanticomorpha also possess a radula, a ribbon-like structure with rows of teeth used for scraping food. The radula morphology varies widely depending on the diet of the species, ranging from simple teeth used for grazing on algae to specialized, hooked teeth used for predation on other animals.
Environments
Calanticomorpha gastropods are found in a variety of marine environments, from shallow intertidal zones to deep-sea trenches. They are most abundant in coastal waters, where they play an important role in benthic ecosystems. Some species are adapted to live in specific habitats, such as rocky shores, sandy bottoms, or coral reefs. Calanticomorpha includes a wide range of feeding strategies, with some species being herbivores, others carnivores, and some even scavenging on dead organisms.
References
Further information about Calanticomorpha can be found on these websites: