Costellariidae sometimes called the "ribbed miters" is a taxonomicfamily of minute to medium-sized predatorysea snails, marinegastropodmollusks.[2]
This family of snails is also sometimes referred to as Vexillum miters. The main family of miter shells however is Mitridae, a closely related group.
The monophyly of this family has been confirmed.[3]
Taxonomy
This family was previously sometimes known as Vexillidae.
The shell ranges from small to medium-sized, with an elongate shape that is typically fusiform, elongate-fusiform, or turriform. The protoconch is glossy and smooth, usually multispiral and narrowly conical, though it can sometimes be paucispiral and bulbous. The shell often features a high spire, a very narrow aperture, and a well-developed siphonal canal. The distinct suture is either impressed or canaliculated. The sculpture primarily consists of well-developed axial ribs, which can vary from rounded and widely spaced folds to dense, sharp ribs. While these axial ribs may become less pronounced or be overtaken by spiral elements on adult whorls, they remain prominent on earlier teleoconch whorls. The outer lip generally has three or four strong columellar folds, with the adapical fold usually being the strongest. A callus is typically present on the parietal side. There is no operculum.
Although their shape resembles that of the Mitridae, these shells are more closely related to the Muricidae. [4]
Distribution
Species of this genus are found in the tropical and temperate waters of the Indo-Pacific, usually at depths between 0 mm and 200 m. [1]
^ abcdefghijklmnoFedosov A. E. & Kantor Yu. I. (2010). " . [Evolution of carnivorous gastropods of the family Costellariidae (Neogastropoda) in the framework of molecular phylogeny]". Ruthenica20(2): 117-139. PDFArchived 2011-07-15 at the Wayback Machine
^Bouchet, P.; Rocroi, J.-P. (2005). "Classification and Nomenclator of Gastropod Families". Malacologia. 47 (1–2).
^Robin, A. (2010). Austromitra Finlay, 1927. In: Bouchet, P.; Gofas, S.; Rosenberg, G. (2010) World Marine Mollusca database. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=410823 on 2010-12-25
