Turbinidae have a strong, thick calcareousoperculum readily distinguishing them from the somewhat similar Trochidae or top snails, which have a corneous operculum. This strong operculum serves as a passive defensive structure against predators that try to enter by way of the aperture or that would break the shell at the outer lip. These operculum are rounded ovals that are flat with a swirl design on one side and domed on the other. They are known as Pacific cat's eye or Shiva eye shells or mermaid money, and are used for decorative purposes.
Etymology
The common nameturban snail presumably refers to the shell's similarity in appearance to a turban. However, the scientific name Turbinidae is based on the genus name Turbo, which is Latin for spinning top, a child's toy. The word turbine has a similar derivation.
Taxonomy
Previously[when?] they were classified in the subclass Prosobranchia, in the order Archaeogastropoda in the superfamily Trochacea. Trochaecea is now a synonym for the superfamily Trochoidea. However, this is a quite ancient group of gastropods, probably originating in the Permian period 298 to 250 million years ago. They have typical primitivecharacters like the nacreous interior of the shell.
Turbinidae was redefined and moved to the redefined superfamily Trochoidea according to Williams et al. (2008): Angariidae was elevated to family level, Colloniinae was elevated to family Colloniidae within Phasianelloidea, Margaritinae was moved to Turbinidae from Trochidae.
This family consists of five following subfamilies according to Williams et al. (2008):
Tegulinae Kuroda, Habe & Oyama, 1971: upgraded to the rank of family Tegulidae Kuroda, Habe & Oyama, 1971
Prisogasterinae Hickman & McLean, 1990
The following subfamilies (sensu Bouchet & Rocroi (2005) classification of subfamilies in Turbinidae) were kept in Turbinidae:
Moellerinae Hickman & McLean, 1990 - Moelleria was not included in the molecular studies performed in 2010.
† Moreanellinae J. C. Fischer & Weber, 1997
Distribution
Turbinids occur in shallow and deep waters. The family has a large distribution, from the tropics to the polar regions, but most of the species live in tropical and subtropical shallow waters.
Astrea Link, 1807: synonym of Astraea Röding, 1798
Agathistoma Olsson & Harbison, 1953: synonym of Tegula Lesson, 1832
Amyxa Troschel, 1852: synonym of Prisogaster Mörch, 1850
Calcar Montfort, 1810: synonym of Astralium Link, 1807
Canthorbis Swainson, 1840: synonym of Astraea Röding, 1798
Cardinalia Gray, 1842: synonym of Tectus Montfort, 1810
Crosseia P. Fischer, 1885: synonym of Crossea A. Adams, 1865
Cyclocantha Swainson, 1840: synonym of Astralium Link, 1807
Dinassovica Iredale, 1937: synonym of Turbo (Turbo) Linnaeus, 1758 represented as Turbo Linnaeus, 1758
Distellifer Iredale, 1937: synonym of Astralium Link, 1807
Foliastralium Habe & Okutani, 1980: synonym of Astralium Link, 1807
Galeoastraea Habe, 1958: synonym of BolmaRisso, 1826
Halopsephus Rehder, 1943: synonym of Turbo (Halopsephus) Rehder, 1943 represented as Turbo Linnaeus, 1758
Harisazaea Habe, 1958: synonym of BolmaRisso, 1826
Imperator Montfort, 1810: synonym of Astraea Röding, 1798
† Incilaster Finlay, 1926: synonym of BolmaRisso, 1826
Livona Gray, 1842: synonym of Cittarium Philippi, 1847
Lunatica Röding, 1798: synonym of Turbo Linnaeus, 1758
Macropelmus Gistel, 1848: synonym of Astralium Link, 1807
Margarita Leach, 1819: synonym of Margarites Gray, 1847
Micrastraea Cotton, 1939: synonym of Bellastraea Iredale, 1924
Notosetia Iredale, 1915: synonym of Putilla A. Adams, 1867
Okinawastraea Habe & Okutani, 1981: synonym of Astralium Link, 1807
† Oobolma Sacco, 1896 : synonym of BolmaRisso, 1826
† Ormastralium Sacco, 1896: synonym of BolmaRisso, 1826
Pachypoma Gray, 1850: synonym of Lithopoma Gray, 1850
Pagocalcar Iredale, 1937: synonym of Astralium Link, 1807
Pseudastralium Schepman, 1908: synonym of BolmaRisso, 1826
Pyramidea Swainson, 1840: synonym of Tectus Montfort, 1810
Pyramis Schumacher, 1817: synonym of Tectus Montfort, 1810
Rugastella Iredale, 1937: synonym of Astralium Link, 1807
Senobolma Okutani, 1964: synonym of BolmaRisso, 1826
Stella P. Fischer, 1885: synonym of Astralium Link, 1807
Submargarita Strebel, 1908: synonym of Lissotesta Iredale, 1915
Tharsiella Bush, 1897: synonym of Cirsonella Angas, 1877
Trochiscus G.B. Sowerby I, 1838: synonym of Norrisia Bayle, 1880
† Tylastralium Sacco, 1896: synonym of BolmaRisso, 1826
Valvatella Gray, 1857: synonym of Margarites Gray, 1847
References
Marshall, B.A. 1988. Skeneidae, Vitrinellidae and Orbitestellidae (Mollusca: Gastropoda) associated with biogenic substrata from bathyal depths off New Zealand and New South Wales. Journal of Natural History 22(4): 949–1004.
Vaught, K.C. (1989). A classification of the living Mollusca. American Malacologists: Melbourne, FL (USA). ISBN0-915826-22-4. XII, 195 pp.
Williams S.T., Karube S. & Ozawa T. (2008) Molecular systematics of Vetigastropoda: Trochidae, Turbinidae and Trochoidea redefined. Zoologica Scripta 37: 483–506.
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