The Nassariidae, Nassa mud snails (USA), or dog whelks (UK), 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 ...

of small to medium-sized

sea snails Sea snail is a common name for slow-moving marine gastropod molluscs, usually with visible external shells, such as whelk or abalone. They share the taxonomic class Gastropoda with slugs, which are distinguished from snails primarily by the ...

, marine 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 e ...

s in the clade Neogastropoda. "Dog whelk" also refers to ''

Nucella lapillus The dog whelk, dogwhelk, or Atlantic dogwinkle (''Nucella lapillus'') is a species of predatory sea snail, a carnivorous marine gastropod in the family Muricidae, the rock snails. ''Nucella lapillus'' was originally described by Carl Linnaeus ...

''.

Shell description

These snails have rounded shells with a high

spire A spire is a tall, slender, pointed structure on top of a roof of a building or tower, especially at the summit of church steeples. A spire may have a square, circular, or polygonal plan, with a roughly conical or pyramidal shape. Spires a ...

, an oval

aperture In optics, an aperture is a hole or an opening through which light travels. More specifically, the aperture and focal length of an optical system determine the cone angle of a bundle of rays that come to a focus in the image plane. An ...

, and a siphonal notch.

Distribution

This family of snails is found worldwide.

Habitat

These snails are found mostly in shallow water, on sandy or muddy substrates, often intertidally, but sometimes in deep water. They can be present in very large numbers in suitable habitat.

Feeding habits

Nassariidae are primarily active and lively scavengers.

2005 taxonomy

The family Nassariidae is closely related to the family of the true whelks,

Buccinidae The Buccinidae are a very large and diverse taxonomic family of large sea snails, often known as whelks or true whelks.Bouchet, P.; Gofas, S. (2010). Buccinidae. In: Bouchet, P.; Gofas, S.; Rosenberg, G. (2010) World Marine Mollusca database. Acc ...

, because of their shared characteristics in the anatomy of the species in these families,), i.e. a long proboscis, the loss of glandular dorsal folds, and a smaller gland of Leiblein (a dorsal venom gland in the mid-oesophagus). According to the taxonomy of the Gastropoda by Bouchet & Rocroi (2005) the family Nassariidae consists of four subfamilies: *

Nassariinae The Nassariidae, Nassa mud snails (USA), or dog whelks (UK), are a taxonomic family of small to medium-sized sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the clade Neogastropoda. "Dog whelk" also refers to ''Nucella lapillus''. Shell description T ...

Iredale, 1916 (1835) - synonyms: Nassinae Swainson, 1835 (inv.); Cyclopsidae Chenu, 1859 (inv.); Cyclonassinae Gill, 1871; Alectrionidae Dall, 1908; Arculariidae Iredale, 1915 * Bullinae Allmon, 1990 (not recognized by Haitao LI ''et al.,'' 2010 ) *

Cylleninae The Nassariidae, Nassa mud snails (USA), or dog whelks (UK), are a taxonomic family of small to medium-sized sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the clade Neogastropoda. "Dog whelk" also refers to ''Nucella lapillus''. Shell descriptio ...

L. Bellardi, 1882 * Dorsaninae Cossmann, 1901 - synonym: Duplicatinae Muskhelishvili, 1967 Kantor et al. (2022) used molecular data to revise the classification of the

Buccinoidea Buccinoidea is a taxonomic superfamily of very small to large predatory sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks. This superfamily is in the clade Neogastropoda according to the taxonomy of the Gastropoda (Bouchet & Rocroi, 2005). It had been ...

superfamily, proposing 20 taxa of family rank and 23 subfamilies. This included the description of a new subfamily of Nassariidae: * Tomliniinae subfam. nov.

2006 taxonomy

Photinae Gray, 1857 was recognized

2017 taxonomy

A new subfamily Anentominae was recognized. * Anentominae Strong, Galindo & Kantor, 2017Strong, E. E., Galindo, L. A., & Kantor, Y. I. (2017). "Quid est ''Clea helena''? Evidence for a previously unrecognized radiation of assassin snails (Gastropoda: Buccinoidea: Nassariidae)". ''PeerJ'' 5: e3638. .

Genera

Genera within the family Nassariidae include: Powell A W B, ''New Zealand Mollusca'', William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1979 ;Nassariinae * ''

Adinassa ''Adinassa'' is a small genus of African sea snails in the family Nassariidae (unassigned in a subfamily). The type species was originally named ''Adinopsis skoogi'' in 1923, though the genus name ''Adinopsis'' had already been used for a genus o ...

'' Horro, Schönherr & Rolán, 2018 (unassigned in a subfamily) * † '' Buccitriton'' Conrad, 1865 * '' Caesia'' H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853 * ''

Demoulia ''Demoulia'' is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Nassariidae The Nassariidae, Nassa mud snails (USA), or dog whelks (UK), are a taxonomic family of small to medium-sized sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in t ...

'' Gray, 1838 * '' Ilyanassa'' Stimpson, 1865 * ''

Nassarius ''Nassarius'', common name nassa mud snails (USA) or dog whelks (UK), is a genus of minute to medium-sized sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the family Nassariidae.Bouchet, P.; Gofas, S. (2010). Nassarius Duméril, 1806. In: Bouchet, P.; ...

'' Finlay, 1927 * '' Nassodonta'' H. Adams, 1867 * ''

Naytia ''Naytia'' is a genus of brackish water snails, gastropod mollusks in the subfamily Nassariinae of the family Nassariidae The Nassariidae, Nassa mud snails (USA), or dog whelks (UK), are a taxonomic family of small to medium-sized sea snails, ...

'' H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853 * ''

Phrontis In Greek mythology, Phrontis (/fron-tis/; Ancient Greek: Φροντις means "thought, care, attention") may refer to the following personages: ''Male'' * Phrontis, son of Phrixus and Chalciope, daughter of King Aeetes. *Phrontis, son of O ...

'' H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853 * † '' Psilarius'' Woodring, 1964 * '' Reticunassa'' Iredale, 1936 * ''

Tritia ''Tritia'' is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Nassariidae, the Nassa mud snails or dog whelks.Bouchet, P.; Gofas, S. (2016). Tritia. In: MolluscaBase (2016). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at htt ...

'' Risso, 1826 List of synonyms in Nassariinae: * ''Aciculina'' A. Adams, 1853: synonym of ''Nassarius (Aciculina)'' A. Adams, 1853: synonym of ''Nassarius'' Duméril, 1805 * ''Alectrion'' Montfort, 1810 : synonym of ''

'' Duméril, 1805 * ''Alectryon'' Melvill, 1918: synonym of ''Alectrion'' Montfort, 1810: synonym of ''Nassarius (Alectrion)'' Montfort, 1810: synonym of ''Nassarius'' Duméril, 1805 * ''Allanassa'' Iredale, 1929: synonym of Nassarius (Allanassa) Iredale, 1929: synonym of Nassarius Duméril, 1805 * ''Amycla'' H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853: synonym of ''Tritia'' Risso, 1826 * ''Amyclina'' Iredale, 1918: synonym of ''Tritia'' Risso, 1826 * ''Arcularia'' Link, 1807: synonym of ''Nassarius'' Duméril, 1805 * ''Arculia'' Jousseaume, 1888: synonym of ''Arcularia'' Link, 1807: synonym of ''Nassarius'' Duméril, 1805 * ''Austronassaria'' C. Laseron & J. Laseron, 1956: synonym of ''Nassarius (Plicarcularia)'' Thiele, 1929: synonym of ''Nassarius'' Duméril, 1805 * † ''Bathynassa'' Ladd, 1976: synonym of ''Nassarius'' Duméril, 1805 * ''Cencus'' Gistel, 1848: synonym of ''Cyclope'' Risso, 1826: synonym of ''Tritia'' Risso, 1826 * † ''Chelenassa'' Shuto, 1969 : synonym of Nassarius (Plicarcularia) Thiele, 1929: synonym of Nassarius Duméril, 1805 * ''Cyclonassa'' Swainson, 1840: synonym of ''Cyclope'' Risso, 1826: synonym of ''Tritia'' Risso, 1826 * ''Cyclope'' Risso, 1826: synonym of ''

'' Risso, 1826 * ''Cyclops'' Montfort, 1810 : synonym of ''

Cyclope ''Cyclope'' is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Nassariidae, the Nassa mud snails or dog whelks. This genus has become a synonym of ''Tritia'' Risso, 1826 . Species ;Species brought into synonymy : * ''Cyclope do ...

'' Risso, 1826; synonym of ''

'' Risso, 1826 * ''Desmoulea'' Gray, 1847: synonym of ''

'' Gray, 1838 * ''Desmoulinsia'': synonym of ''Demoulia'' Gray, 1838 * Eione Risso, 1826: synonym of ''Nassarius (Plicarcularia)'' Thiele, 1929: synonym of ''Nassarius'' Duméril, 1805 * † Fackia Nordsieck, 1972 : synonym of ''Nassarius (Gussonea'') Monterosato, 1912: synonym of ''Tritia'' Risso, 1826 * ''Glabrinassa'' Shuto, 1969: synonym of ''Nassarius (Zeuxis)'' H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853: synonym of ''Nassarius'' Duméril, 1805 * ''Hebra'' H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853: synonym of ''

'' Duméril, 1805 * ''Hima'' Leach in Gray, 1852: synonym of ''Tritia'' Risso, 1826 * ''Hinia'' Leach, 1847: synonym of ''Tritia'' Risso, 1826 * † ''Mirua'' Marwick, 1931: synonym of ''Tritia'' Risso, 1826 * ''Moulinsia'' Tournouer, 1874: synonym of ''Demoulia'' Gray, 1838 * ''Nana'' Schumacher, 1817: synonym of ''Cyclope'' Risso, 1826: synonym of ''Tritia'' Risso, 1826 * ''Nanina'' Risso, 1826: synonym of ''Cyclope'' Risso, 1826: synonym of ''Tritia'' Risso, 1826 * ''

Nassa Nassa may refer to: * Nassa, Noradrenergic and specific serotonergic antidepressant * Nassa (gastropod) * NASSA, Negro American Space Society of Astronauts, a fictitious organization from the mockumentary The Old Negro Space Program ''The Old ...

'' Lamarck, 1799: synonym of ''Nassarius (Sphaeronassa)'' Locard, 1886 ; ''

'' Röding, 1798 belongs to the subfamily

Rapaninae Rapaninae is a subfamily of predatory sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Muricidae.Houart, R. (2011). Rapaninae. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=1962 ...

in the family

Muricidae Muricidae is a large and varied taxonomic family of small to large predatory sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks, commonly known as murex snails or rock snails. With about 1,600 living species, the Muricidae represent almost 10% of the Neoga ...

* ''Naytiopsis'' Thiele, 1929: synonym of ''Tritia'' Risso, 1826 * ''Neritula'' H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853: synonym of ''Cyclope'' Risso, 1826: synonym of ''Tritia'' Risso, 1826 * ''Niotha'' H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853: synonym of ''Nassarius (Niotha)'' H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853: synonym of ''Nassarius'' Duméril, 1805 * ''Pallacera'' Woodring, 1964: synonym of ''Nassarius (Pallacera)'' Woodring, 1964 : synonym of''Nassarius'' Duméril, 1805 * ''Panormella'' O. G. Costa, 1840: synonym of ''Cyclope'' Risso, 1826: synonym of ''Tritia'' Risso, 1826 * ''Parcanassa'' Iredale, 1936: synonym of ''Tritia'' Risso, 1826 * ''Plicarcularia'' Thiele, 1929: synonym of ''Nassarius (Plicarcularia)'' Thiele, 1929: synonym of ''Nassarius'' Duméril, 1805 * ''Profundinassa'' Thiele, 1929: synonym of ''Nassarius (Profundinassa)'' Thiele, 1929: synonym of ''Nassarius'' Duméril, 1805 * ''Proneritula'' Thiele, 1929: synonym of ''Tritia'' Risso, 1826 * ''Pygmaeonassa'' Annandale, 1924: synonym of ''Nassarius (Pygmaeonassa)'' Annandale, 1924: synonym of ''Nassarius'' Duméril, 1805 * ''Reticarcularia'' Shuto, 1969: synonym of ''Nassarius (Plicarcularia)'' Thiele, 1929: synonym of ''Nassarius'' Duméril, 1805 * ''Scabronassa'' Peile, 1939: synonym of ''Nassarius'' Duméril, 1805 * ''Sphaeronassa'' Locard, 1886: synonym of ''Nassarius (Sphaeronassa)'' Locard, 1886 * ''Streptorhega'' Bronn, 1856: synonym of ''Demoulia'' Gray, 1838 * ''Tarazeuxis'' Iredale, 1936: synonym of ''Nassarius (Telasco)'' H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853: synonym of ''Tritia'' Risso, 1826 * ''Tavaniotha'' Iredale, 1936: synonym of ''Nassarius (Niotha)'' H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853: synonym of ''Nassarius'' Duméril, 1805 * ''Telasco'' H. & A. Adams, 1853: synonym of ''Nassarius (Telasco)'' H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853: synonym of ''Tritia'' Risso, 1826 * ''Tritonella'' A. Adams, 1852: synonym of ''Nassarius (Hima)'' Leach in Gray, 1852: synonym of ''Tritia'' Risso, 1826 * ''Uzita'' H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853: synonym of ''Tritia'' Risso, 1826 * ''Varicinassa'' Habe, 1946: synonym of ''Nassarius'' Duméril, 1805 * ''Venassa'' Martens, 1881: synonym of ''Nassarius (Zeuxis)'' H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853: synonym of ''Nassarius'' Duméril, 1805 * ''Zeuxis'' H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853: synonym of ''Nassarius (Zeuxis)'' H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853: synonym of ''Nassarius'' Duméril, 1805 ;Anentominae * '' Anentome'' Cossmann, 1901Bouchet, P. (2017). Anentominae Strong, Galindo & Kantor, 2017. In: MolluscaBase (2017). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=1027028 on 2017-11-22 * ''

Clea Clea Strange () is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by co-plotters Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, Clea first appeared in the Doctor Strange feature in ''Strange Tales'' #126 (November 1964). S ...

'' H. Adams & A. Adams, 1855 * '' Oligohalinophila'' Neiber & Glaubrecht, 2019 ;Buccinanopsinae Galindo, Puillandre, Lozouet & Bouchet, 2016 * '' Buccinanops'' d'Orbigny, 1841 ;Bullinae * ''

Bullia ''Bullia'' is a genus of sea snails, marine (ocean), marine gastropod mollusks in the family (biology), family Nassariidae, the Nassa mud snails or dog whelks. Species The following subgenera are recognized: * ''Bullia'' (''Bullia'') Gray, 1834 ...

'' Gray, 1833 * † '' Bulliopsis'' Conrad, 1862 * ''Adinus'' H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853: synonym of ''

'' Gray, 1833 * ''Cereobullia'' Melvill, 1924: synonym of ''

'' Gray, 1833 * ''Leiodomus'' Swainson, 1840: synonym of ''

'' Gray, 1833 * ''Pseudostrombus'' Mörch, 1852: synonym of ''

'' Gray, 1833 ;Cylleninae * '' Cyllene'' Gray in Griffith & Pidgeon, 1834 * '' Neoteron'' Pilsbry & Lowe, 1932 * ''Radulphus'' Iredale, 1924: synonym of ''Cyllene'' Gray, 1834 ;Dorsaninae * † '' Cyllenina'' Bellardi, 1882 * † '' Desorinassa'' Nuttall & Cooper, 1973 * '' Dorsanum'' Gray, 1847 * † ''

Keepingia ''Keepingia'' is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the subfamily Dorsaninae of the family Nassariidae The Nassariidae, Nassa mud snails (USA), or dog whelks (UK), are a taxonomic family of small to medium-sized sea snails, ...

'' Nuttall & J. Cooper, 1973 * † '' Lisbonia'' Palmer, 1937 * † '' Monoptygma'' Lea, 1833 * † '' Pseudocominella'' Nuttall & J. Cooper, 1973 * † '' Thanetinassa'' Nuttall & J. Cooper, 1973 * † Whitecliffia Nuttall & J. Cooper, 1973 * † ''Colwellia'' Nuttall & J. Cooper, 1973 : synonym of † ''Keepingia'' Nuttall & J. Cooper, 1973 * † ''Desorinassa'' Nuttall & J. Cooper, 1973 : synonym of † ''Keepingia'' Nuttall & J. Cooper, 1973 * † ''Duplicata'' Korobkov, 1955 : synonym of ''Dorsanum'' Gray, 1847 ;Photinae * ''

Antillophos ''Antillophos'' is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Nassariidae. Taxonomy This genus was treated within family Buccinidae. It was moved to family Nassariidae in 2016.Galindo, L. A., Puillandre, N., Utge, J., Lozouet ...

'' Woodring, 1928Bouchet, P.; Gofas, S. (2016). Photinae Gray, 1857. In: MolluscaBase (2017). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=225646 on 2017-11-22 * † '' Coraeophos'' Makiyama, 1936 * † '' Cymatophos'' Pilsbry & Olsson, 1941 * ''

Engoniophos ''Engoniophos'' is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the subfamily of the family Nassariidae. MolluscaBase eds. (2020). MolluscaBase. Engoniophos Woodring, 1928. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: http://w ...

'' Woodring, 1928 * † '' Europhos'' Landau, Harzhauser, Islamoglu & Silva, 2014 * † '' Glyptophos'' Landau, da Silva & Heitz, 2016 * † '' Judaphos'' Jung, 1995 * ''

Metaphos ''Metaphos'' is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family (biology), family Nassariidae. MolluscaBase eds. (2020). MolluscaBase. Metaphos Olsson, 1964. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: http://www.marines ...

'' Olsson, 1964 * '' Northia'' Gray, 1847 * † '' Philindophos'' Shuto, 1969 * ''

Phos ''Phos'' is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Nassariidae.Bouchet, P. (2015). Phos Montfort, 1810. In: MolluscaBase (2017). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia. ...

'' Montfort, 1810 * † '' Rhipophos'' Woodring, 1964 * '' Strombinophos'' Pilsbry & Olsson, 1941 * † '' Tritiaria'' Conrad, 1865 ;Tomliniinae subfam. nov. * ''

Nassaria ''Nassaria'' is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the subfamily Tomliniinae of the family Nassariidae.MolluscaBase eds. (2021). MolluscaBase. Nassaria Link, 1807. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: http:/ ...

'' Link, 1807 * '' Tomlinia'' Peile, 1937 * '' Trajana'' Gardner, 1948 * ''Benthindsia'' Iredale, 1936: synonym of ''

'' Link, 1807 * ''Hindsia'' A. Adams, 1855: synonym of ''

'' Link, 1807 * ''Microfusus'' Dall, 1916: synonym of''

'' Link, 1807 ;Subfamily ? * ''Adinopsis'' Odhner, 1923 : ? synonym of ''

'' Gray in Griffith & Pidgeon, 1834 * ''

Adinus ''Adinus'' is a genus of sea snails, marine (ocean), marine gastropod mollusks in the family (biology), family Nassariidae, the Nassa mud snails or dog whelks. Description The subulate shell is spirally striated. The Columella (gastropod), colum ...

'' H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853 * '' Ambullina'' Palmer, 1937 * '' Soyonassa'' Okutani, 1964

References

External links

*
Miocene Gastropods and Biostratigraphy of the Kern River Area, California; United States Geological Survey Professional Paper 642

Galindo, L. A.; Puillandre, N.; Utge, J.; Lozouet, P.; Bouchet, P. (2016). The phylogeny and systematics of the Nassariidae revisited (Gastropoda, Buccinoidea). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 99: 337-353
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