Scleralcyonacea

Scleralcyonacea is a subclass of the class Gastropoda, the most diverse class of molluscs. It is a monophyletic group, containing about 120 species of marine snails. This subclass was established by J.T. Vermeij and A.D. Warren in 1986. The Scleralcyonacea are most closely related to the subclass Neogastropoda and are sometimes treated as a superfamily within that subclass, rather than a subclass in its own right.

Junceella Juncea – Junceella juncea

Virgularia presbytes

Virgularia tuberculata

Green Star Polyp – Briareum hamrum

Briareum Stechei – Briareum stechei

Tube Coral – Sarcodictyon catenatum

Grey Sea-pen, Grey Sea Fether – Pteroeides griseum

Long Polyp Orange Soft Coral – Paraminabea aldersladei

Pteronisis whiteleggei

Gray’s Parasphaeasclera, Softcoral – Parasphaerasclera grayi

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Common Names

Scleralcyonacea is not commonly referred to by a specific common name. The snails within this subclass are generally known by their individual species names, such as whelks, conchs, triton's trumpets, and murex.

Characteristics

Scleralcyonacean snails have a number of distinct characteristics, including:

  • A sclerotized operculum, which is a hard, protective plate that covers the opening of the shell when the snail retracts into its shell.
  • A radula, a ribbon-like structure in the mouth containing rows of chitinous teeth, used for scraping food.
  • A siphon, a tube-like structure that draws in water for respiration and feeding.
  • A protrusible proboscis, a long, fleshy snout used to reach and capture prey.

Environments

Scleralcyonacean snails are found in a variety of marine environments, including:

  • Intertidal zones: These snails are often found on rocky shores and tide pools, where they can tolerate periods of exposure to air.
  • Subtidal zones: Scleralcyonacean snails are also found in deeper waters, where they can be found on seafloors and coral reefs.

References

Scleralcyonacea - ResearchGate.

Phylogenetic relationships of the Scleralcyonacea (Mollusca: Gastropoda) based on morphological data - JSTOR.