Ergalataxinae is a

taxonomic Taxonomy is the practice and science of categorization or classification. A taxonomy (or taxonomical classification) is a scheme of classification, especially a hierarchical classification, in which things are organized into groups or types. ...

subfamily of small to medium-sized predatory

sea snail 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 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 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 snails and slugs from saltwater, from freshwater, and from land. T ...

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 within 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 Neogas ...

, the rock snails. In this subfamily, the

aragonitic Aragonite is a carbonate mineral, one of the three most common naturally occurring crystal forms of calcium carbonate, (the other forms being the minerals calcite and vaterite). It is formed by biological and physical processes, including pre ...

shell Shell may refer to: Architecture and design * Shell (structure), a thin structure ** Concrete shell, a thin shell of concrete, usually with no interior columns or exterior buttresses ** Thin-shell structure Science Biology * Seashell, a hard o ...

has 0–2

varices A varix (pl. varices) is an abnormally dilated vessel with a tortuous course. Varices usually occur in the venous system, but may also occur in arterial or lymphatic vessels. Examples of varices include: * Varicose veins, large tortuous veins usua ...

Genera

The subfamily Ergalataxinae contains the following genera: *'' Azumamorula'' Emerson, 1968 (uncertain, may be a subgenus of ''Morula'') *'' Bedevina'' Habe, 1946 *''

Claremontiella ''Claremontiella'' is a genus of small, predatory sea snails, related to the genera ''Tenguella'' and ''Muricodrupa''. Its members are marine gastropod molluscs in the family Muricidae Muricidae is a large and varied taxonomic family of sma ...

'' Houart, Zuccon & Puillandre, 2019 *''

Cronia ''Cronia'' is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails. Description The shell is ovate. The spire is acuminated. The aperture is moderate. The inner lip is callous at the upper ...

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

Cytharomorula ''Cytharomorula'' is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks 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 sna ...

'' Kuroda, 1953 *''

Daphnellopsis ''Daphnellopsis'' is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family (biology), family Muricidae. Species Species within the genus ''Daphnellopsis'' include: * ''Daphnellopsis fimbriata'' (Hinds, 1843) * ''Daphnellopsis hypselos'' ...

'' Schepman, 1913 *''

Drupella ''Drupella'' is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails. This genus was placed in the family Muricidae by Drivas & Jay, 1988 and by Richmond, 1997. Description ''Drupella'' can ...

'' Thiele, 1925 *''

Ergalatax ''Ergalatax'' is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the subfamily Ergalataxinae of the family Muricidae Muricidae is a large and varied taxonomic family of small to large predatory sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks, ...

'' Iredale, 1931 *†'' Janssenia'' Landau, Harzhauser, İslamoğlu & Silva, 2013 *''

Lataxiena ''Lataxiena'' is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails. ''Lataxiena lataxiena'' Jousseaume, 1883 is the type species by tautonomy (= ''Trophon fimbriatus'' Hinds, 1844). Spe ...

'' Jousseaume, 1883 *''

Lauta Lauta ( Sorbian: ''Łuty'') is a town in the district of Bautzen, in Saxony, Germany. It is situated 10 km west of Hoyerswerda, and 10 km southeast of Senftenberg. History From 1815 to 1945, within the Prussian Province of Brandenburg ...

'' Houart, Zuccon & Puillandre, 2019 *'' Lindapterys'' Petuch, 1987 *'' Maculotriton'' Dall, 1904 *''

Morula A morula (Latin, ''morus'': mulberry) is an early-stage embryo consisting of a solid ball of cells called blastomeres, contained in mammals, and other animals within the zona pellucida shell. The blastomeres are the daughter cells of the zygote ...

'' Schumacher, 1817 *''

Murichorda ''Murichorda'' is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the subfamily Ergalataxinae of the family Muricidae Muricidae is a large and varied taxonomic family of small to large predatory sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks, ...

'' Houart, Zuccon & Puillandre, 2019 *''

Muricodrupa ''Muricodrupa'' is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the subfamily Ergalataxinae of the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails. Species * '' Muricodrupa anaxares'' (Kiener, 1836) (previously ''Morula anaxares'') * ...

'' Iredale, 1918 *''

Oppomorus ''Oppomorus'' is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails. Species Species within the genus ''Oppomorus'' include: * '' Oppomorus funiculatus'' (Reeve, 1846) * '' Oppomorus nodu ...

'' Iredale, 1937 *''

Orania Orania () is an Afrikaner separatist town founded by Afrikaners in South Africa. It is located along the Orange River in the Karoo region of the Northern Cape province. The town is split in two halves by the R369 road, and is from Cape Tow ...

'' Pallary, 1900 *''

Pascula ''Pascula'' is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks 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 ...

'' Dall, 1908 *'' Phrygiomurex'' Dall, 1904 *''

Spinidrupa ''Spinidrupa'' is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the subfamily Ergalataxinae of the family Muricidae Muricidae is a large and varied taxonomic family of small to large predatory sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks, ...

'' Habe & Kosuge, 1966 *''

Tenguella Tenguella (also known as Temelá) was the founder of the Empire of Great Fulo. He was responsible, along with his son, for the Fula migration to the Gambia. He was named Great Fulo or Great king of the Fulos in Portuguese documents of the time. ...

'' Arakawa, 1965 *'' Trachypollia'' Woodring, 1928 *'' Usilla'' H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853 *'' Uttleya'' Marwick, 1934 ;Genera brought into synonymy : * ''Cumella'' Jousseaume, 1898: synonym of ''Lataxiena'' Jousseaume, 1883 * ''Habromorula'' Houart, 1995: synonym of ''Morula (Habromorula)'' Houart, 1995 * ''Morulina'' Dall, 1923: synonym of ''

'' Schumacher, 1817 * ''Roquesia'' Petuch, 2013: synonym of ''

Colubraria ''Colubraria'' is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Colubrariidae. Members of this genus lack a radula and feed by sucking blood from fish.Debelius, H. 2001. ''Nudibranchs and Sea Snails Indo-Pacific Field Guide'' I ...

'' Schumacher, 1817 ;Genera that have been treated as subgenera: * ''Azumamorula'' as ''Morula (Azumamorula)'' * ''Oppomorus'' as ''Morula (Oppomorus)'', re-raised to genus in 2013. * ''Usilla'' as ''Cronia (Usilla)'' The classification into this subfamily is doubtful for the genera ''Daphnellopsis'' Schepman, 1913; ''Lindapterys'' Petuch, 1987 ''Maculotriton'' Dall, 1904; and ''Uttleya'' Marwick, 1934

Taxonomy

The subfamily Ergalataxinae originally contained just four species: ''Bedevina birileffi'', ''Ergalatax contracta'', ''E. tokugawai'', and ''Cytharomorula vexillum''. Later, genera ''Morula'', ''Spinidrupa'', ''Cronia'', and ''Drupella'' were transferred from the

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 ...

(also called Thaidinae). New species have been described, and genera split, leading to a subfamily of approximately 150 species in 20+ genera.

Molecular phylogeny

Gene-sequence analysis of four genes (cytochrome ''c'' oxidase subunit I, and three ribosomal RNA) from 52 Ergalataxine species showed three major clades, with four suprageneric sub-clades in the last: * Clade A: ''Tenguella'', ''Muricodrupa'', ''Claremontiella'' * Clade B: ''Morula'' (), ''Murichorda'' * Clade C: ''Phrygiomurex'', and: ** Clade W: ''Lataxiena'', ''Usilla'', some ''Orania'' ** Clade X: ''Drupella''; ''Cronia'', ''Maculotriton'', ''Ergalatax'' ** Clade Y: ''Oppomorus''; ''Spinidrupa'', ''Bedevina'' ** Clade Z: ''Cytharomorula'', some ''Orania'', ''Pascula'', ''Lauta'' Genetic material from ''Azumamorula'', ''Daphnellopsis'', ''Lindapterys'', and ''Uttleya'' was not included. Genus names above reflect later changes, such as ''Lauta parva'' for ''"Morula" parva'', ''Claremontiella nodulosa'' for ''"Morula" nodulosa'', and ''Murichorda'' for ''"Muricodrupa" fiscella'' and ''"Morula" rumphiusi''. ''Cronia'', ''Maculotriton'', and ''Ergalatax'' may prove to be a single species, in which case the name ''Cronia'' would have precedence. If ''Ergalatax'' is subsumed into ''Cronia'', this would impact the name of the Ergalataxinae. Most ''Spinidrupa'' grouped with ''Bedevina'' (which has priority), but the type species ''S. euracantha'' was more basal to clade Y (only 12S rRNA sequence was available for the latter). Orania is polyphyletic, but its type species was not included.

References

External links

{{Taxonbar, from=Q5385781 Muricidae