Persicula

Persicula
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
(unranked): clade Caenogastropoda
clade Hypsogastropoda
clade Neogastropoda
Superfamily: Muricoidea
Family: Cystiscidae
Subfamily: Persiculinae
Genus: Persicula
Schumacher, 1817
Type species
Persicula variabilis Schumacher, H.C.F., 1817
Synonyms[1]
  • Pachybathron Gaskoin, 1853
  • Persicula (Rabicea) Gray, 1857

Persicula is a taxonomic genus of minute to small predatory sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks. It includes several species which are micromollusks.[1]

This genus is placed in the family Cystiscidae. It was previously in the family Marginellidae the margin snails. Both families are within the clade Neogastropoda.

(Note: Gastropod taxonomy has been in flux for more than half a century, and this is especially true currently, because of new research in molecular phylogeny. Because of all the on-going changes, different reliable sources can yield very different classifications.)

Habitat

Species in this genus live from the intertidal zone to 370 m in depth.

Shell description

In this genus the shell is minute to small. It can be uniformly colored or white, and the color can be patterned. The shell is moderately thick to thick. The spire is usually immersed. The lip of the aperture is thickened, and weakly to strongly lirate.

An external varix can be present or absent. There is a distinct siphonal notch present and a posterior notch is also present. The columella is multiplicate, with 4 to 13 plications plus parietal lirae.

Description of soft parts

The animal has long tentacles, and the siphon is also usually long. The mantle appears not to extend completely over the external shell surface.

Type species of the genus

P. variabilis Schumacher, 1817 = Voluta persicula Linné, 1758

Species

The separation between the genera Persicula and Gibberula is not well-defined. It is based on morphological differences with the larger species (showing a complex color pattern) belonging to Persicula, while the smaller species (showing a banded or uniform color pattern) belong to Gibberula. Many species with characteristics that fall between the two extremes, are ambiguous. Up to now (2010) there is no phylogenetic analysis to substantiate this rather arbitrary classification.[1]

According to the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS), the following species with valid names are included within the genus Persicula :[1]

The following species are mentioned in the database gastropods.com :[2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Persicula Schumacher, 1817. 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=137882 on 2010-12-05
  2. ↑ Gastropods.com : family Cystiscidae: accessed : 5 December 2010
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