''Rictaxis'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

of minute

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 ...

s or "bubble snails",

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 or

micromollusk A micromollusk is a shelled mollusk which is extremely small, even at full adult size. The word is usually, but not exclusively, applied to marine mollusks, although in addition, numerous species of land snails and freshwater mollusks also ...

s in the family Acteonidae, the "barrel bubble" snails.WoRMS (2011). Rictaxis Dall, 1871. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=160472 on 2011-12-14 The genus name is derived from Latin words, meaning “open mouth”, and “axis” referring to the

columella Lucius Junius Moderatus Columella (; Arabic: , 4 – ) was a prominent writer on agriculture in the Roman Empire. His ' in twelve volumes has been completely preserved and forms an important source on Roman agriculture, together with the wo ...

Species

Species within the genus ''Rictaxis'' include: * '' Rictaxis albus'' (Sowerby, 1873) * ''

Rictaxis painei ''Rictaxis'' is a genus of minute sea snails or "bubble snails", marine gastropod mollusks or micromollusks in the family Acteonidae, the "barrel bubble" snails.WoRMS (2011). Rictaxis Dall, 1871. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Speci ...

'' (Dall, 1903) * ''

Rictaxis punctocaelatus ''Rictaxis'' is a genus of minute sea snails or "bubble snails", marine gastropod mollusks or micromollusks in the family Acteonidae, the "barrel bubble" snails.WoRMS (2011). Rictaxis Dall, 1871. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Speci ...

'' (Carpenter, 1864) * ''

Rictaxis sanguinea ''Rictaxis'' is a genus of minute sea snails or "bubble snails", marine gastropod mollusks or micromollusks in the family Acteonidae, the "barrel bubble" snails.WoRMS (2011). Rictaxis Dall, 1871. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Speci ...

'' Valdès, 2008 ; Species that have been synonymized: * ''Rictaxis punctostriatus'' : synonym of ''

Japonactaeon punctostriatus ''Japonactaeon punctostriatus'', common names Adam's baby bubble and pitted baby-bubble, is a species of minute sea snail or "bubble snail", a marine gastropod mollusc or micromollusc in the family Acteonidae, the "barrel bubble" snails.Bouchet, ...

'' (C. B. Adams, 1840) * '' Rictaxis albus'' Sowerby, 1873 ** Distribution : South Africa ** Length : 10–21 mm ** Description white shell with numerous spiraling white to lightbrown grooves * ''

'' Dall, 1903 ** Distribution : America * ''

Carpenter Carpentry is a skilled trade and a craft in which the primary work performed is the cutting, shaping and installation of building materials during the construction of buildings, Shipbuilding, ships, timber bridges, concrete formwork, etc. ...

, 1864 Barrel shell; Carpenter's baby bubble (synonym: ''Acteon punctocaelatus'' Carpenter, 1864) ** Distribution : Southern Alaska, British Columbia, California ** Length : 10–20 mm ** Description : found in sand from lowtide line to depths up to 50 m; evenly elliptical shell with alternating darker brown and grayish-brown bands; outer lip and columellar folds are whitish; large spire; ovate columella strongly twisted, with a pointed posterior notch and a rounded base.

References

External links

Acteonidae {{Acteonidae-stub