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Turritellidae, the tower shells, is a taxonomic family of small to medium-sized sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the clade Sorbeoconcha.
These snails are filter feeders. This method of feeding is somewhat unusual among gastropod mollusks, but is very common in bivalves.
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Shell description
The shells of species in this family are very tall, narrowly tapered, many whorled, without a siphonal canal or a notch. The whorls are more convex and the aperture is more circular than auger shells. The outer lip is thin, and usually has a broad median indentation or sinus, variable in depth, according to the genus. The columella is curved and the thin operculum is horny.
Anatomy of the soft parts
The gill filters minute detrital material from the inhalant water current, while the turret shell burrows into mud or sand. The mantle entry has fringing tentacles, and the outer edge of the operculum bears minute bristles, both designed to sift out excessive sediment, and allow only the smallest food particles through. The foot is relatively small.
Taxonomy
The following subfamilies have been recognized in the taxonomy of Bouchet & Rocroi of 2005
- Orectospirinae Habe, 1955
- Pareorinae Finlay & Marwick, 1937
- Protominae Marwick, 1957
- Turritellinae Lovén, 1847
- Vermiculariinae Dall, 1913
Genera within the family Turritellidae
- Maoricolpus Finlay, 1927
- Tachyrhynchus Morch, 1868
- Turritella Lamarck, 1799
- Vermicularia Lamarck, 1799
- Zeacolpus Finlay, 1927
Palaeontological locations
- The Turritellenplatte of Ermingen ("Erminger Turritellenplatte" near Ulm, Germany) is situated in the northern part of the North Alpine Foreland Basin (NAFB) and is famous for its abundance of Turritella turris gastropod shells within sediments. The fauna of this gastropod-rich sandstone reflects mainly near-coastal and shallow marine conditions.1 Petrographical and palaeontological data allow a correlation of Turritellenplatte of Ermingen with Burdigalian (Lower Miocene). Sr-isotope composition of shark teeth suggests an age of about 18,5 Ma for the Turritellenplatte of Ermingen.2
References
- Mayr, Helmut. A Guide to Fossils. Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey, USA. 1985 (English translation 1992).
- Turritellidae (TSN 71292). Integrated Taxonomic Information System.
- Powell A. W. B., New Zealand Mollusca, William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1979 ISBN 0-00-216906-1
- ^ J. Baier: Über die Tertiärbildungen im Ulmer Raum - Documenta Naturae, 168, 1-32; München, 2008. ISBN 978-3-86544-168-3
- ^ J. Baier: Ein Beitrag zur Erminger Turritellenplatte (Mittlere Schwäbische Alb, SW-Deutschland). - Jahresbericht Mitt. oberrhein. geol. Ver., N.F. 90, 9-17; Stuttgart, 2008. ISSN 0078-2947
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Turritellidae |
- Selachian fauna of Turritellenplatte: Abstract of Baier et al. 2004
- Age and Sedimentpetrography of Turritellenplatte: Abstract of Baier 2008
Wikipedia content modification information:
- This page was last modified on 9 November 2008, at 06:19.
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