''Xenophora'', commonly called carrier shells, is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial n ...

of medium-sized to large sea

snails A snail is, in loose terms, a shelled gastropod. The name is most often applied to land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod molluscs. However, the common name ''snail'' is also used for most of the members of the molluscan class Ga ...

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 in the

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 ...

Xenophoridae Xenophoridae, common name, commonly called carrier shells, is a family (biology), family of medium-sized to large sea snails, marine (ocean), marine gastropod mollusks in the clade Littorinimorpha. According to the Taxonomy of the Gastropoda (B ...

, the carrier snails or carrier shells. WoRMS (2012). Xenophora. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=138664 on 2012-06-28 The genus ''Xenophora'' is the type genus of the family Xenophoridae.

Etymology

The name ''Xenophora'' comes from two ancient Greek words, and means "bearing foreigners", so-called because in most species the snail cements pieces of rock or shells to its own shell at regular intervals as the shell grows.

Description

The shells of species within this genus vary from small to large (diameter of base without attachments 19-90 mm; height of shell 21-60 mm), depressed-conical, with narrow to very narrow, simple peripheral edge, non-porcellanous ventrally. Foreign objects are attached to all whorls, with generally more than 30% of dorsal surface obscured by these objects. The foreign objects are usually medium-sized to large.Kreipl, K. & Alf, A. (1999): ''Recent Xenophoridae''. 148 pp. incl. 28 color plts. ConchBooks, Hackenheim, . Although the foreign objects are usually mollusk shells, pebbles, or small pieces of coral rock, in some instances a bottle cap has been attached by the snail to its shell.

Species

The genus ''Xenophora'' includes the following species and subspecies: * '' Xenophora minuta'' Qi & Ma, 1986 * ''

Xenophora robusta ''Xenophora'', commonly called carrier shells, is a genus of medium-sized to large sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Xenophoridae, the carrier snails or carrier shells. WoRMS (2012). Xenophora. Accessed through: World Regist ...

'' Verrill, 1870 ; Subgenus ''Xenophora (Austrophora)'' Kreipl, Alf & Kronenberg, 1999 * ''

Xenophora flindersi ''Xenophora flindersi'' is a species of large sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Xenophoridae Xenophoridae, common name, commonly called carrier shells, is a family (biology), family of medium-sized to large sea snails, ma ...

'' (Cotton & Godfrey, 1938) ;Subgenus ''Xenophora (Xenophora)'' Fischer von Waldheim, 1807 * '' Xenophora cerea'' ( Reeve, 1845) * '' Xenophora chinensis''

Philippi Philippi (; grc-gre, Φίλιπποι, ''Philippoi'') was a major Greek city northwest of the nearby island, Thasos. Its original name was Crenides ( grc-gre, Κρηνῖδες, ''Krenides'' "Fountains") after its establishment by Thasian col ...

, 1841) * ''

Xenophora conchyliophora ''Xenophora conchyliophora'' is a species of medium-sized to large sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Xenophoridae, the carrier shells. Distribution This is a Western Atlantic species. Description The maximum recorded shel ...

'' ( Born, 1780) - American carriersnail (

type species In zoological nomenclature, a type species (''species typica'') is the species name with which the name of a genus or subgenus is considered to be permanently taxonomically associated, i.e., the species that contains the biological type specimen( ...

of ''Xenophora'') * ''

Xenophora corrugata ''Xenophora corrugata'' is a species of large sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Xenophoridae Xenophoridae, common name, commonly called carrier shells, is a family (biology), family of medium-sized to large sea snails, ma ...

'' ( Reeve, 1842) * ''

Xenophora crispa ''Xenophora crispa'', the Mediterranean Carrier Shell, is a species of large sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Xenophoridae, the carrier shells. Fossil record There are currently 16 known species in the genus, Xenophora. F ...

'' (König, 1825) * ''

Xenophora granulosa ''Xenophora granulosa'' is a species of large sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Xenophoridae Xenophoridae, common name, commonly called carrier shells, is a family (biology), family of medium-sized to large sea snails, ma ...

'' Ponder, 1983 * ''

Xenophora japonica ''Xenophora japonica'' is a species of large sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Xenophoridae Xenophoridae, common name, commonly called carrier shells, is a family (biology), family of medium-sized to large sea snails, mar ...

'' Kuroda & Habe in Kuroda et al., 1971 *''

Xenophora mekranensis ''Xenophora mekranensis'' is a species of large sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Xenophoridae Xenophoridae, common name, commonly called carrier shells, is a family (biology), family of medium-sized to large sea snails, ...

'' (Newton, 1905) **''

Xenophora mekranensis konoi ''Xenophora'', commonly called carrier shells, is a genus of medium-sized to large sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Xenophoridae, the carrier snails or carrier shells. WoRMS (2012). Xenophora. Accessed through: World Regist ...

'' Habe, 1953 * '' Xenophora neozelanica'' Suter, 1908 - New Zealand carriershell ** ''Xenophora neozelandica neozelandica'' Suter, 1908 ** ''Xenophora neozelandica kermadecensis'' Ponder, 1983 * ''

Xenophora pallidula ''Xenophora pallidula'' is a species of large 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 called Gastropoda (). This cla ...

'' ( Reeve, 1842) - pallid carrier shell * '' Xenophora peroniana'' (Iredale, 1929) ** ''Xenophora peroniana peroniana'' (Iredale, 1929) ** ''Xenophora peroniana kondoi'' Ponder 1983 * ''

Xenophora senegalensis ''Xenophora senegalensis'' is a species of large sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Xenophoridae Xenophoridae, commonly called carrier shells, is a family of medium-sized to large sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in th ...

'' Fischer, 1873 * '' Xenophora sinensis'' Qi & Li, 1986 * '' Xenophora solarioides'' ( Reeve, 1845) * '' Xenophora tenuis'' Fulton, 1938 ;Species brought into synonymy: * Subgenus ''Xenophora'' (''Stellaria'') Möller, 1832: synonym of ''

Stellaria ''Stellaria'' is a genus of about 190 species of flowering plants in the family Caryophyllaceae, with a cosmopolitan distribution. Common names include starwort, stitchwort and chickweed. Description ''Stellaria'' species are relatively sm ...

'' Möller, 1832 * ''Xenophora (Stellaria) testigera'' (Bronn, 1831): synonym of ''

Stellaria testigera ''Stellaria testigera'', common name finger carrier shell, is a species of large sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Xenophoridae, the carrier shells. Subspecies * ''Stellaria testigera profunda'' Ponder, 1983 * ''Stellaria testi ...

'' (Bronn, 1831) * ''Xenophora australis'' Souverbie & Montrouzier, 1870: synonym of ''Xenophora (Xenophora) solarioides'' (Reeve, 1845) * ''Xenophora calculifera'' (Reeve, 1843): synonym of '' Stellaria chinensis'' (Philippi, 1841) * ''Xenophora caperata'' sensu Petit de la Saussaye, 1857: synonym of ''Xenophora (Xenophora) senegalensis'' Fischer, 1873 * ''Xenophora caribaea'' Petit de la Saussaye, 1857 - Caribbean carriersnail: synonym of ''

Onustus caribaeus ''Onustus caribaeus'' is a species of large sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Xenophoridae, the carrier shells. Description The anatomy of O. Caribaeus. is very similar to all members of the Xenophoridae family. Their shells ha ...

'' (Petit de la Saussaye, 1857) * ''Xenophora cavelieri'' Rochebrune, 1883: synonym of ''Xenophora (Xenophora) senegalensis'' Fischer, 1873 * ''Xenophora digitata'' Martens, 1878: synonym of ''Stellaria testigera digitata'' Martens, 1878 * ''Xenophora gigantea'' (Schepman, 1909): synonym of ''

Stellaria gigantea ''Stellaria gigantea'' is a species of large sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Xenophoridae Xenophoridae, common name, commonly called carrier shells, is a family (biology), family of medium-sized to large sea snails, mari ...

'' (Schepman, 1909) * ''Xenophora helvacea'' Philippi, 1851: synonym of ''

Onustus indicus ''Onustus indicus'' is a species of large sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Xenophoridae, the carrier shells. Description Distribution ''Onustus indicus'' is distributed in the tropical Indian Ocean (excluding Arabian Sea) ...

'' (Gmelin, 1791) * ''Xenophora indica'' (Gmelin, 1791): synonym of ''

'' (Gmelin, 1791) * ''Xenophora japonica'' Kuroda & Habe, 1971: synonym of ''Xenophora (Xenophora) japonica'' Kuroda & Habe, 1971 * ''Xenophora konoi'' Habe, 1953: synonym of ''Xenophora (Xenophora) mekranensis konoi'' Habe, 1953 * ''Xenophora laevigata'' Fischer von Waldheim, 1807: synonym of ''Xenophora (Xenophora) conchyliophora'' (Born, 1780) * ''Xenophora lamberti'' Souverbie, 1871: synonym of '' Stellaria lamberti'' (Souverbie, 1871) * ''Xenophora longleyi'' Bartsch, 1931 - shingled carriersnail: synonym of ''

Onustus longleyi ''Onustus longleyi'' is a species of large sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Xenophoridae, the carrier shells. Description These sea snails are usually a white-cream color, with a cream underside. Their spire is rather smooth ...

'' Bartsch, 1931 * ''Xenophora meandrina'' Fischer von Waldheim, 1807: synonym of ''Xenophora (Xenophora) conchyliophora'' (Born, 1780) * ''Xenophora mediterranea'' Tiberi, 1863: synonym of ''Xenophora (Xenophora) crispa'' (König, 1825) * ''Xenophora neozelanica'' Suter, 1908: synonym of ''Xenophora (Xenophora) neozelanica neozelanica'' Suter, 1908 * ''Xenophora regularis'' Habe & Okutani, 1983 : synonym of ''Xenophora (Xenophora) granulosa'' Ponder, 1983 * ''Xenophora tenuis'' Hirase, 1934: synonym of ''Xenophora (Xenophora) tenuis'' Fulton, 1983 * ''Xenophora torrida'' Kuroda & Ito, 1961 : synonym of ''Xenophora (Xenophora) cerea'' (Reeve, 1845) * ''Xenophora tricostata'' Fischer von Waldheim, 1807: synonym of ''Xenophora (Xenophora) conchyliophora'' (Born, 1780) * ''Xenophora tulearensis'' Stewart & Kosuge, 1993: synonym of ''Xenophora (Xenophora) corrugata'' (Reeve, 1842) * ''Xenophora vulcanica'' Fischer von Waldheim, 1807: synonym of ''Xenophora (Xenophora) conchyliophora'' (Born, 1780) * ''Xenophora wagneri'' Philippi, 1855: synonym of ''

'' (Gmelin, 1791)

Extinct species

Extinct species within this genus include: Paleobiology Database
*

† A dagger, obelisk, or obelus is a typographical mark that usually indicates a footnote if an asterisk has already been used. The symbol is also used to indicate death (of people) or extinction (of species). It is one of the modern descendan ...

''Xenophora carditigera'' Nielsen and DeVries 2002 *

''Xenophora cummulans'' Brongniart 1823 *

''Xenophora delecta'' Guppy 1876 *

''Xenophora deshayesi ''Michelotti 1847 *

''Xenophora eocenica'' Abbass 1967 *

''Xenophora floridana'' Mansfield 1930 *

''Xenophora infundibulum'' (Brocchi, 1814) *

''Xenophora palaeoafra'' Gliozzi and Malatesta 1983 *

''Xenophora paulinae'' Nielsen and DeVries 2002 *

''Xenophora rugata'' Abbass 1967 *

''Xenophora tatei'' Harris 1897 *

''Xenophora terpstrai'' Dey 1961 *

''Xenophora textilina'' Dall 1892

Fossil record

Fossils of ''Xenophora'' are found in marine strata from the

Cretaceous The Cretaceous ( ) is a geological period that lasted from about 145 to 66 million years ago (Mya). It is the third and final period of the Mesozoic Era, as well as the longest. At around 79 million years, it is the longest geological period of ...

to Quaternary (age range: from 89.3 to 0.012 million years ago.). Fossils are known all over the world. G. Manganelli, V. Spadini, S. Cianfanell
The xenophorid gastropods of the Mediterranean Pliocene: the record of the Siena Basin

References

Ponder W.F. (1983). ''A revision of the Recent Xenophoridae of the World and of the Australian Fossil Species (Mollusca : Gastropoda)''. Memoir 17. The Australian Museum Sydney, Australia
* Kreipl K. & Alf A. (1999). ''Recent Xenophoridae''. Conchbooks, Hackenheim > Germany. 148pp. {{taxonbar, from=Q3176940 Xenophoridae Extant Coniacian first appearances