''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 contrast ...

volutes, are 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. ...

family of 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 ...

s 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 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 ...

mollusks. Most of the species have no operculum.

Distribution

This family of sea snails are found mainly in tropical seas, though some species also inhabit the waters of the polar circles.

Shell description

The shell of species such as '' Melo amphora'' 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). 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 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 & Olsson, 1954 **Tribe Amoriini Gray, 1857 * Athletinae Pilsbry & Olsson, 1954 * Calliotectinae Pilsbry & Olsson, 1954 * Cymbiinae H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853 **Tribe Adelomelonini Pilsbry & Olsson, 1954 **Tribe Alcithoini Pilsbry & 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 Pilsbry & Olsson, 1954 * Plicolivinae Bpichet, 1990 * Scaphellinae Gray, 1857 * Volutinae **Tribe Lyriini Pilsbry & Olsson, 1954 **Tribe Volutini Rafinesque, 1815

Genera

Genera within the Volutidae include: * ''

Adelomelon ''Adelomelon'' is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Volutidae. Description The medium-sized to large shell is smooth or knobbed. The protoconch is small and smooth with or without a calcarella. Species Species wit ...

'' Dall, 1906 * '' Alcithoe'' 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'' 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 ...

'' Dall, 1915 * '' Athleta'' Conrad, 1853 * ''

Callipara ''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 * ...

'' 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 ...

'' Dall, 1890 * '' Cymbiola'' 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,

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, 10th edition of ''Systema Naturae'', the sta ...

) **''

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 ''Ericusa'' is a small taxonomic genus of medium-sized predatory marine gastropod molluscs in the family Volutidae, the volutes.Bail, P. (2010). Ericusa. In: Bouchet, P.; Gofas, S.; Rosenberg, G. (2010) World Marine Mollusca database. Accessed th ...

'' 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 ''Harpovoluta'' is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the subfamily Cymbiinae of the family Volutidae. Species Species within the genus ''Harpovoluta'' include: * ''Harpovoluta charcoti ''Harpovoluta charcoti'' is a specie ...

'' 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 ...

'' Dall, 1906 * ''

Iredalina The golden volute, ''Iredalina mirabilis'', is a species of rare, large, deepwater sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Volutidae, the volutes. This is the only species in the genus; in other words, ''Iredalina'' is a monotypic ge ...

'' 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'' 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 ...

'' Dall, 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 ''Odontocymbiola'' is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the subfamily Cymbiinae of the family Volutidae. Description The radula contain fang-like cusps. Species Species within the genus ''Odontocymbiola'' include: * '' Odont ...

'' Clench & Turner, 1964 * † '' Pachymelon''

Marwick Marwick is a Scottish surname, that may refer to: *Arthur Marwick (1936–2006), Scottish historian *Ernest Marwick (1915–1977), Scottish writer *Hugh Marwick (1885–1965), Scottish scholar *James Marwick (born 1862), founder of accountancy pr ...

, 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 ''Scaphella'' is a genus of large sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Volutidae, the volutes.Bail, P. (2012). Scaphella. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails& ...

'' 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 ''Tractolira'' 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 gastr ...

'' Dall, 1890 * ''

Voluta ''Voluta'' is a genus of medium to large sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the family Volutidae, the volutes.Bail, P. (2010). Voluta Linnaeus, 1758. In: Bouchet, P.; Gofas, S.; Rosenberg, G. (2010) World Marine Mollusca database. Accessed ...

'' Linnaeus,

* ''

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''

, 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 ''Zidona'' is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Volutidae. Species Species within the genus ''Zidona'' include: * ''Zidona dufresnei ''Zidona dufresnei'' is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in t ...

'' 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