Siphonariida

Siphonariida is an order of small, air-breathing sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the superfamily Siphonarioidea. They are commonly known as false limpets or “siphonariids”.

Siphonaria oculus

Siphonaria japonica

Characteristics

Siphonariids have a conical shell, often with a low spire, and a broad, flat base. The shell is usually smooth, but may be ornamented with ribs or lines. Siphonariids have a single, large, oval-shaped opening (aperture) in their shells. The aperture is usually slightly wider than it is long, and it is often bordered by a thickened rim. Like other pulmonates, siphonariids have a mantle cavity that functions as a lung, allowing them to breathe air while submerged. They are able to hold their breath for extended periods of time, and they can also absorb oxygen from the water through their skin.

Environments

Siphonariids are found in intertidal and subtidal zones, typically in rocky habitats exposed to wave action. They are usually found on the underside of rocks, or in crevices, where they are protected from the sun and drying conditions. Siphonariids are found throughout the world, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions. Some species can tolerate brackish waters, and a few have even been found in freshwater habitats.

Reproduction

Siphonariids are hermaphroditic, meaning that they have both male and female reproductive organs. They reproduce sexually, and they typically lay their eggs in clusters on the underside of rocks or in crevices. The eggs are usually laid in a gelatinous mass, which helps to protect them from desiccation.

Taxonomy

The Siphonariida is composed of the following families:

  • Siphonariidae Gray, 1840
  • Gadinidae Tapparone-Canefri, 1876
  • Katharinidae Pilsbry, 1891
  • Trimusculidae Dall, 1918

References

  • Bouchet, P., Rocroi, J.-P., Frýda, J., Hausdorf, B., Ponder, W., Valdes, A. & Warén, A. (2005). "Classification and nomenclator of gastropod families". Malacologia 47(1-2): 1–397.
  • Abbott, R. T. (1974). American seashells. The marine mollusks of the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of North America. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold. ISBN 0-442-24524-5
  • Gosliner, T. M., Behrens, D. W., & Williams, G. C. (1996). Coral reef animals of the Indo-Pacific. Sea Challengers. ISBN 0-930118-18-2