Eucithara

Eucithara is a genus of small to quite large sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Mangeliidae.[1]

Eucithara
Shell of Eucithara vexillum
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Caenogastropoda
Order: Neogastropoda
Superfamily: Conoidea
Family: Mangeliidae
Genus: Eucithara
Fischer, 1883
Type species
Mangelia stromboides
Reeve, 1846
Species

See text

Synonyms

Mangilia (Eucithara) P. Fischer, 1883 (original rank)

Shells of Eucithara coronata

This genus has been a convenient dumping ground for many Indo-Pacific species. A profound study is still lacking and polyphyly probably occurs, as shown by the radulae of the few species examined.[2]

Description

Species in this genus show a rather solid turreted-fusiform shell, sculptured by bold longitudinal ribs, over-run by dense spiral threads, and decussated by an even finer radial striatum. The aperture is as long, or longer, than the spire, fortified externally by a stout varix which ascends the previous whorl, includes a semi-circular sinus, and extends a free edge over the mouth. Within the outer lip are a series of short entering ridges, and the columella bears a corresponding series of deeply entering horizontal bars.[3]

Distribution

This genus has a wide distribution in the Red Sea, the Persian Gulf, the Indian Ocean, the Pacific Ocean, the East China Sea; off Australia (Northern Territory, Queensland, Tasmania, Western Australia).

Species

According to the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS), the following species with accepted names are included within the genus Eucithara [4]

Species brought into synonymy

The Indo-Pacific Molluscan Database adds the following names in current use to the list [5]

  • Eucithara cinnamomea cinnamomea (Hinds, 1843-g)
  • Eucithara cithara (Gould, 1851): synonym of Eucithara coronata cithara (A.A. Gould, 1851)
  • Eucithara gracilis gracilis (Reeve, 1846 in 1843-65)
  • Eucithara gracilis striolata (Bouge & Dautzenberg, 1914)

References
  1. Bouchet, P. (2011). Eucithara Fischer, 1883. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=204626 on 2011-08-07
  2. Kilburn R.N. 1992. Turridae (Mollusca: Gastropoda) of southern Africa and Mozambique. Part 6. Subfamily Mangeliinae, section 1. Annals of the Natal Museum, 33: 461–575
  3. Hedley, C. 1922. A revision of the Australian Turridae. Records of the Australian Museum 13(6): 213-359, pls 42-56 This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  4. WoRMS: Eucithara; accessed : 7 August 2011
  5. OBIS : Eucithara
  • Fischer, 1883: Manuel de conchyliologie et de paléontologie conchyliologique, (6): 593
  • Kilburn R.N. 1992. Turridae (Mollusca: Gastropoda) of southern Africa and Mozambique. Part 6. Subfamily Mangeliinae, section 1. Annals of the Natal Museum, 33: 461–575
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