Vasidae, common name the vase snails or vase shells, are a taxonomic family of large predatory sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks within the superfamily Turbinelloidea. [1]

Vasidae
A live but retracted individual of Vasum rhinoceras in a tide pool in Mombasa, Kenya, Africa
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Caenogastropoda
Order: Neogastropoda
Superfamily: Turbinelloidea
Family: Vasidae
H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853 (1840)
Type genus
Vasum Röding, 1798
Synonyms[1]
  • Cynodontidae MacDonald, 1860
  • Vasinae H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853 (1840) superseded rank

Before 2024 it was considered as a subfamily of the Turbinellidae. [2]

Shell description

edit

The radula on the lingual membrane occur in three series, the central recurved, toothed at the tip, the lateral not versatile; the central tooth is broad, few-toothed; the lateral teeth are narrow, strong, with a single large denticle. The mantle is enclosed, with a straight siphon.

The operculum is ovate, acute, with the nucleus apical.

The shell is more or less turbinate, with plaits on the middle of the columella.

Shells of species in this subfamily are fairly large, very thick, and heavy. The shells have low spires and have plaits on the columella. [3]

Genera

edit

Genera within the subfamily Vasinae include:

Synonyms
  • Cynodonta Schumacher, 1817: synonym of Vasum Röding, 1798
  • Globivasum Abbott, 1950: synonym of Vasum Röding, 1798
  • Scolymus Swainson, 1835: synonym of Vasum Röding, 1798
  • Tudicula H. Adams & A. Adams, 1864: synonym of Tudivasum Rosenberg & Petit, 1987 (junior homonym of Tudicula Ryckholt, 1862)
  • Volutella Perry, 1810: synonym of Vasum Röding, 1798

References

edit
  1. ^ a b MolluscaBase eds. (2024). MolluscaBase. Vasidae H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=196299 on 2024-09-10
  2. ^ Vermeij, G.J. (2024). "Shell-based genus-level reclassification of the family Vasidae (Mollusca: Neogastropoda)". Zootaxa. 5405 (4): 526–544. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.5405.4.3. PMID 38480172. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
  3. ^ Adams, H. & Adams, A. (1853-1858). The genera of Recent Mollusca; arranged according to their organization. London, van Voorst. Vol. 1: xl + 484 pp.; vol. 2: 661 pp.; vol. 3: 138 pls
edit