Terebridae


The Terebridae, commonly referred to as auger shells or auger snails, is a family of predatory marine gastropods in the superfamily Conoidea. They have extremely high-spired shells with numerous whorls; their common name refers to the resemblance of their shells to rock-drill bit. More than 400 species are recently known worldwide.

Taxonomy

This family consists of the following subfamilies :
In 2019 there was a comprehensive revision of the taxonomy of the Terebridae by Fedosov, A. E.; Malcolm, G.; Terryn, Y.; Gorson, J.; Modica, M. V.; Holford, M.; Puillandre, N. in the Journal of Molluscan Studies, including the definition of new genera and the redistribution of many species to other genera.

Shell description

The shells of the sea snails in this family are typically shaped like slender augers or screws. In that respect they share certain shell characters with the family Turritellidae, the turret shells.
One characteristic that distinguishes Terebridae from Turritellidae is the short anterior canal or notch in the aperture of the shell. Terebridae shells also tend to have characteristically flattened versus convex whorls, and they often have one or two plaits on the columella.
Numerous species in this family are grouped under the genera Terebra or Hastula, and a minority of species are placed in four other genera.

Life habits

These snails are sand-dwelling carnivores which live in warmer waters. In most species, a venomous barb similar to that of the cone snails,, is used to stun and immobilize prey, which typically consists of various marine worms.

Genera

Genera in the family Terebridae include:Bathyterebra Fedosov, Malcolm, Terryn, Gorson, Modica, Holford & Puillandre, 2020Cinguloterebra Oyama, 1961Clathroterebra Oyama, 1961Duplicaria Dall, 1908Euterebra Cotton & Godfrey, 1932Gemmaterebra Cotton, 1952 Gradaterebra Cotton & Godfrey, 1932Granuliterebra Oyama, 1961Hastula H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853Hastulopsis Oyama, 1961
;Genera brought into synonymy:Abretia H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853: synonym of Oxymeris Dall, 1903 Abretiella Bartsch, 1923: synonym of Oxymeris Dall, 1903Acuminia Dall, 1908: synonym of Hastula H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853Acus Gray, 1847: synonym of Oxymeris Dall, 1903 Brevimyurella Oyama, 1961: synonym of Punctoterebra Bartsch, 1923Cinguloterebra Oyama, 1961: synonym of Terebra Bruguière, 1789Clathroterebra Oyama, 1961: synonym of Myurella Hinds, 1845Decorihastula Oyama, 1961: synonym of Myurella Hinds, 1844 Dimidacus Iredale, 1929: synonym of Terebra Bruguière, 1789Diplomeriza Dall, 1919: synonym of Duplicaria Dall, 1908Egentelaria Rehder, 1980: synonym of Hastula H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853Euterebra Cotton & Godfrey, 1932: synonym of Duplicaria Dall, 1908Gradaterebra ''Cotton & Godfrey, 1932: synonym of Euterebra Cotton & Godfrey, 1932Hastulina Oyama, 1961: synonym of Hastula H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853Impages E. A. Smith, 1873: synonym of Hastula H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853Laeviacus Oyama, 1961: synonym of Pristiterebra Oyama, 1961Myurellina Bartsch, 1923: synonym of Terebra Bruguière, 1789Myurellisca Bartsch, 1923: synonym of Duplicaria Dall, 1908Noditerebra Cossmann, 1896 †: synonym of Terebra Bruguière, 1789Nototerebra Cotton, 1947: synonym of Oxymeris Dall, 1903Panaterebra Olsson, 1967: synonym of Terebra Bruguière, 1789Paraterebra Woodring, 1928: synonym of Terebra Bruguière, 1789Partecosta Dance & Eames, 1966: synonym of Euterebra Cotton & Godfrey, 1932Pervicacia Iredale, 1924: synonym of Duplicaria Dall, 1908Subula Schumacher, 1817: synonym of Terebra Bruguière, 1789Terebrina Bartsch, 1923: synonym of Terebra Bruguière, 1789 Terebrum Montfort, 1810: synonym of Terebra Bruguière, 1789Terenolla Iredale, 1929: synonym of Myurella Hinds, 1845Triplostephanus Dall, 1908: synonym of Terebra Bruguière, 1789Vertagus Link, 1807: synonym of Terebra'' Bruguière, 1789