''Volutidae'',

common name In biology, a common name of a taxon or organism (also known as a vernacular name, English name, colloquial name, country name, popular name, or farmer's name) is a name that is based on the normal language of everyday life; and is often contra ...

volutes, are a taxonomic

family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...

predatory Predation is a biological interaction where one organism, the predator, kills and eats another organism, its prey. It is one of a family of common feeding behaviours that includes parasitism and micropredation (which usually do not kill t ...

sea snails that range in size from 9 mm to over 500 mm. They are

marine Marine is an adjective meaning of or pertaining to the sea or ocean. Marine or marines may refer to: Ocean * Maritime (disambiguation) * Marine art * Marine biology * Marine debris * Marine habitats * Marine life * Marine pollution Military * ...

gastropod

mollusk Mollusca is the second-largest phylum of invertebrate animals after the Arthropoda, the members of which are known as molluscs or mollusks (). Around 85,000 extant species of molluscs are recognized. The number of fossil species is es ...

s. Most of the species have no operculum.

Distribution

This family of sea snails are found mainly in

tropical The tropics are the regions of Earth surrounding the Equator. They are defined in latitude by the Tropic of Cancer in the Northern Hemisphere at N and the Tropic of Capricorn in the Southern Hemisphere at S. The tropics are also referred to ...

seas, though some species also inhabit the waters of the

polar circle A polar circle is a geographic term for a conditional circular line (arc) referring either to the Arctic Circle or the Antarctic Circle. These are two of the keynote circles of latitude (parallels). On Earth, the Arctic Circle is currently ...

Shell description

The shell of species such as ''

Melo amphora ''Melo amphora'', common name the Diadem volute, is a very large sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Volutidae, the volutes. Etymology The specific name ''amphora'' is the Latin word for vase, derived from the Greek ' (α ...

'' can grow as large as 50 cm (19.7 inches) in length.Poutiers, J. M. (1998). Gastropods in: FAO Species Identification Guide for Fishery Purposes: The living marine resources of the Western Central Pacific Volume 1. Seaweeds, corals, bivalves and gastropods. Rome, FAO, 1998. page 597. Volutes are distinguished by their distinctively marked spiral shells (to which the family name refers, ''voluta'' meaning "scroll" in

Latin Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power ...

). The shells have an elongated aperture in their first whorl and an inner lip characterised by a number of deep plaits. The elaborate decorations of the shells has made them a popular collectors' item, with the imperial volute ('' Voluta imperialis'') of the

Philippines The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no), * bik, Republika kan Filipinas * ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas * cbk, República de Filipinas * hil, Republ ...

being particularly prized.

Taxonomy

Subfamilies and tribes

According to Bail & Poppe (2001)Bail, P. & Poppe, G. T. (2001). '' A taxonomic introduction to the recent Volutidae''. In: Poppe, G. T. & Groh, K.: ''A Conchological Iconography''. 30 pp., 5 plts. ConchBooks, Hackenheim, . Volutidae can be subdivided into the following Subfamilies and tribes: * Amoriinae Gray, 1857 **Tribe Meloini

Pilsbry Henry Augustus Pilsbry (7 December 1862 – 26 October 1957) was an American biologist, malacologist and carcinologist, among other areas of study. He was a dominant presence in many fields of invertebrate taxonomy for the better part of a cent ...

& Olsson, 1954 **Tribe Amoriini Gray, 1857 * Athletinae

& Olsson, 1954 * Calliotectinae

& Olsson, 1954 * Cymbiinae H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853 **Tribe Adelomelonini

& Olsson, 1954 **Tribe Alcithoini

& Olsson, 1954 **Tribe Cymbiini H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853 **Tribe Livoniini Bail & Poppe, 2001 **Tribe Odontocymbiolini Clench & Turner, 1964 **Tribe Zidonini H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853 * Fulgorariinae

& Olsson, 1954 * Plicolivinae Bpichet, 1990 * Scaphellinae Gray, 1857 * Volutinae **Tribe Lyriini

& Olsson, 1954 **Tribe Volutini

Rafinesque Constantine Samuel Rafinesque-Schmaltz (; October 22, 1783September 18, 1840) was a French 19th-century polymath born near Constantinople in the Ottoman Empire and self-educated in France. He traveled as a young man in the United States, ultimat ...

, 1815

Genera

Genera within the Volutidae include: * '' Adelomelon''

Dall Dall may refer to: People * Anders Bendssøn Dall (died 1607), Danish Lutheran bishop * Bobby Dall (born 1963), American musician * Caroline Healey Dall (1822–1912), American feminist writer *Clarrie Dall (1887–1953), Australian footballer * C ...

, 1906 * ''

Alcithoe ''Alcithoe'' is a genus of large sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the family Volutidae, the volutes.Marshall, B. & Bail, P. (2015). "''Alcithoe'' H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853". In: MolluscaBase (2015). Accessed through: World Register o ...

'' H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853 * '' Amoria'' Gray, 1855Bail, P., Limpus, A. & Poppe, G. T. (2001): ''The Genus'' Amoria. In: Poppe, G. T. & Groh, K.: ''A Conchological Iconography''. 50 pp., 93 plts. ConchBooks, Hackenheim, . * ''

Ampulla An ampulla (; ) was, in Ancient Rome, a small round vessel, usually made of glass and with two handles, used for sacred purposes. The word is used of these in archaeology, and of later flasks, often handle-less and much flatter, for holy water or ...

'' Röding, 1798 * ''

Arctomelon ''Arctomelon'' is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Volutidae. Species Species within the genus ''Arctomelon'' include: * ''Arctomelon benthale ''Arctomelon benthale'' is a species of sea snail, a marine gastr ...

, 1915 * '' Athleta'' Conrad, 1853 * '' Callipara'' Gray, 1847 * ''

Calliotectum ''Calliotectum'' is a genus of sea snails, marine (ocean), marine gastropod mollusks in the family (biology), family Volutidae. The genus was first described by William Healey Dall in 1890. Description The shell shows a dark vernicose periostra ...

, 1890 * ''

Cymbiola ''Cymbiola'' is a genus of large predatory sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Volutidae, the volutes.Bail, P. (2010). Cymbiola Swainson, 1831. In: Bouchet, P.; Gofas, S.; Rosenberg, G. (2010) World Marine Mollusca database. ...

'' Swainson, 1831 * ''

Cymbiolacca ''Cymbiolacca'' is a small taxonomic genus of medium-sized predatory marine gastropod mollusc in the family Volutidae, the volutes. This genus is often treated as a subgenus of ''Cymbiola'' Swainson, 1831. Distribution ''Cymbiolacca'' species ...

'' * '' Cymbium'' Röding, 1798 **''

Cymbium cymbium ''Cymbium cymbium'', commonly known as the false elephant's snout volute, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by ...

'' **''

Cymbium glans ''Cymbium glans'', commonly known as the elephant's snout volute, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recogni ...

'' **''

Cymbium marmoratum ''Cymbium marmoratum'', commonly known as the marble cymbium volute, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod The gastropods (), commonly known as snails and slugs, belong to a large taxonomic class of invertebrates within the phylum ...

'' **''

Cymbium olla ''Cymbium olla'', commonly known as the Algarve volute, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod The gastropods (), commonly known as snails and slugs, belong to a large taxonomic class of invertebrates within the phylum Mollusca cal ...

'' (

Linnaeus Carl Linnaeus (; 23 May 1707 – 10 January 1778), also known after his ennoblement in 1761 as Carl von Linné Blunt (2004), p. 171. (), was a Swedish botanist, zoologist, taxonomist, and physician who formalised binomial nomenclature, t ...

1758 Events January–March * January 1 – Swedish biologist Carl Linnaeus (Carl von Linné) publishes in Stockholm the first volume (''Animalia'') of the 10th edition of ''Systema Naturae'', the starting point of modern zoological ...

) **''

Cymbium pepo ''Cymbium pepo'', commonly known as the African neptune volute is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognize ...

'' * ''

Enaeta ''Enaeta'' is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Volutidae. Description The small shell has an ovate to fusiform shape. The protoconch is small and smooth. The teleoconch is covered with axial ribs. There is a consp ...

'' H. Adams and A. Adams, 1853 * '' Ericusa'' H. Adams and A. Adams, 1858 * ''

Festilyria ''Callipara'' is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Volutidae. Species The following species are recognised in the genus ''Callipara'': * '' Callipara africana'' (Reeve, 1856) * '' Callipara aikeni'' Veldsman, 2012 * ...

'' Pilsbry & Olsson, 1954 * ''

Fulgoraria ''Fulgoraria'' is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or ...

'' Schumacher, 1817Bail, P., Chino, M. & Terryn, Y. (2010). ''The Family Volutidae. The endemic Far East Asian subfamily Fulgorariinae Pilsbry & Olsson, 1954. A revision of the recent species''. In: Poppe, G. T. & Groh, K.: ''A Conchological Iconography''. 74 pp., 64 plts. ConchBooks, Hackenheim, . * ''

Fusivoluta ''Fusivoluta'' is a genus of sea snails and marine (ocean), marine gastropod mollusks in the family (biology), family Volutidae. Species Species within the genus ''Fusivoluta'' include: * ''Fusivoluta anomala'' (Martens, 1902) * ''Fusivoluta ba ...

'' E. von Martens, 1902 * '' Harpovoluta'' Thiele, 1912 * ''

Harpulina ''Harpulina'' is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Volutidae. Distribution Restricted to Sri Lanka and the southern tip of the Indian Peninsula The Indian subcontinent is a physiographical region in Southern ...

, 1906 * '' Iredalina'' Finlay, 1926 * ''

Leptoscapha ''Leptoscapha'' is a genus of sea snails, marine (ocean), marine gastropod mollusks in the family (biology), family Volutidae. Species Species within the genus ''Leptoscapha'' include: * ''Leptoscapha crassilabrum'' (Tate, 1889) References

'' Fischer, 1883 * ''

Livonia Livonia ( liv, Līvõmō, et, Liivimaa, fi, Liivinmaa, German and Scandinavian languages: ', archaic German: ''Liefland'', nl, Lijfland, Latvian and lt, Livonija, pl, Inflanty, archaic English: ''Livland'', ''Liwlandia''; russian: Ли ...

'' Gray, 1855 * '' Lyria'' Gray, 1847 * † '' Mauira'' Marwick, 1943 * † '' Mauithoe'' Finlay, 1930 * '' Melo'' Broderip in Sowerby I, 1826 * † '' Metamelon'' Marwick, 1926 * ''

Minicymbiola ''Minicymbiola'' is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod The gastropods (), commonly known as snails and slugs, belong to a large taxonomic class of invertebrates within the phylum Mollusca called Gastropoda (). This class comprises sn ...

'' Klappenbach, 1979 * ''

Miomelon ''Miomelon'' is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Volutidae ''Volutidae'', common name volutes, are a taxonomic family of predatory sea snails that range in size from 9 mm to over 500 mm. They are marine gastropo ...

, 1907 * † '' Mitreola'' Swainson, 1833 * '' Nannamoria'' Iredale, 1929 * ''

Nanomelon ''Nanomelon'' is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or ...

'' Leal & Bouchet, 1989 * ''

Neptuneopsis ''Neptuneopsis'' is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod The gastropods (), commonly known as snails and slugs, belong to a large taxonomic class of invertebrates within the phylum Mollusca called Gastropoda (). This class comprises sna ...

'' Sowerby III, 1898 * ''

Notopeplum ''Notopeplum'' is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Volutidae. Species Species within the genus ''Notopeplum'' include: * ''Notopeplum annulatum'' Wilson, 1972 * ''Notopeplum cossignanii'' Poppe, 1999 * ''Notop ...

'' Finlay, 1927 * '' Notavoluta'' Cotton, 1946 * '' Odontocymbiola'' Clench & Turner, 1964 * † '' Pachymelon'' Marwick, 1926 * ''

Paramoria ''Paramoria'' is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or o ...

'' McMichael, 1960 * '' Plicoliva'' Petuch, 1979 * '' Provocator'' Watson, 1882 * '' Scaphella'' Swainson, 1832 * '' Spinomelon'' Marwick, 1926 * ''

Tenebrincola ''Tenebrincola'' is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Volutidae. It is a Western Pacific abyssal genus, which is defined by a very thin, smooth shell, a radula The radula (, ; plural radulae or radulas) is an an ...

'' Harasewych & Kantor, 1991 * '' Teramachia'' * '' Tractolira''

, 1890 * '' Voluta''

* ''

Volutifusus ''Volutifusus'' is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage o ...

'' Conrad, 1863 * ''

Volutoconus ''Volutoconus'' is a small taxonomic genus of four rare species of sea snails, medium-sized predatory marine gastropod mollusks in the family Volutidae. Distribution ''Volutoconus'' species live in tropical and subtropical waters. All four spe ...

'' Crosse, 1871 * '' Waihaoia'' Marwick, 1926 * ''

Zygomelon ''Zygomelon'' is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or ...

'' Harasewych & Marshall, 1995 * '' Zidona'' H. Adams and A. Adams, 1853

References

ITIS
* "Volute." ''Encyclopædia Britannica'', 2006. * Powell A W B, ''New Zealand Mollusca'', William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1979 * Merle & Pacaud & Marivaux, 2014 Merle & Pacaud & Marivaux, Volutidae (Mollusca: Gastropoda) of the Lakhra Formation (Earliest Eocene, Sindh, Pakistan): systematics, biostratigraphy and paleobiogeography; Zootaxa, 3826 (1) : 101-138, fig. 1-12. , 2014

External links

Biodiversity Library: Maxwell Smith, ''A review of the Volutidae'', Beal-Maltbie Shell Museum, Florida, 1942

Miocene Gastropods and Biostratigraphy of the Kern River Area, California; United States Geological Survey Professional Paper 642
Taxa named by Constantine Samuel Rafinesque Gastropod families Volutoidea {{Commons category, Volutidae