Cantharidus


Cantharidus, common name the kelp shells, is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs of the family Trochidae, the top shells.

Description

The shell has an ovate-conic or pyramidal shape. It is imperforate, smooth or spirally sculptured outside, brilliantly iridescent within. The colors are generally bright and variegated. The aperture is less than half the length of shell, longer than wide, ovate. The columella is usually more or less folded or toothed near the base.
The central tooth of the radula has a body with broadly expanded supporting wings, a narrowed peduncle or neck, which bears a simple cusp. This peduncle has on each side delicate wings. The lateral teeth number five on each side and have as peculiarity that they increase in size from the inner to the outer one. The inner lateral is slender, narrowed toward the cusp, like the centrals, and bearing a lamella behind the peduncle. The outer laterals are very broad, with one or several denticles on the cusp. The only character separating Cantharidus from Gibbula is the simple cusp of the central tooth, whilst in Gibbula it is denticulate at the sides.

Distribution

This genus is composed of marine species with a wide distribution, occurring off Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, French Polynesia, South Korea, Japan, Indonesia, New Caledonia, Oceania, East India, Africa.

Species

The World Register of Marine Species includes the following species with valid names within the genus Cantharidus :Cantharidus antipodum Cantharidus bisbalteatus Pilsbry, 1901Cantharidus callichrous Cantharidus capillaceus Cantharidus crenelliferus Cantharidus dilatatus Cantharidus festivus Cantharidus fournieri Cantharidus fulminatus Cantharidus fultoni Cantharidus interruptus Cantharidus japonicus Cantharidus jessoensis Schrenck, L. von, 1863Cantharidus lepidus Cantharidus levis Bozzetti, 2021Cantharidus marmoreus Pease, W.H., 1868
The Indo-Pacific Molluscan Database also mentions the following species with names in current use :Cantharidus vittata
Species and subspecies within the genus Cantharidus include:Cantharidus cinguliger A. Adams, 1851 )Cantharidus fumosus Dillwyn, 1817Cantharidus iridis A. Adams, 1851Cantharidus moniliger A. Adams, 1851 )Cantharidus nigricans A. Adams, 1851Cantharidus nitidulus A. Adams, 1851 Cantharidus punctulosus A. Adams, 1851 )Cantharidus purpuratus A. Adams, 1851
;Species brought into synonymy:Cantharidus artensis : synonym of Trochus artensis P. Fischer, 1878Cantharidus artizona A. Adams, 1851: synonym of Roseaplagis artizona Cantharidus articularis A. Adams, 1851: synonym of Jujubinus interruptus Cantharidus bisculptus E.A. Smith: synonym of Dactylastele burnupi Cantharidus burchorum Marshall, 1998: synonym of Micrelenchus burchorum Cantharidus caelatus Hutton, 1884: synonym of Roseaplagis caelatus Cantharidus capillaceus coruscans : synonym of Cantharidus capillaceus Cantharidus columna Dall, 1890: synonym of Halistylus columna Cantharidus elongatus Wood: synonym of Thalotia elongata Sowerby, G.B. I, 1818Cantharidus fultoni : synonym of Trochus fultoni Melvill, 1898Cantharidus gilberti Montrouzier, 1878: synonym of Cantharidus polychroma Cantharidus hirasei Pilsbry, 1901: synonym of Phasianotrochus hirasei Cantharidus huttonii : synonym of Micrelenchus huttonii Cantharidus infuscatus Gould, 1861: synonym of Kanekotrochus infuscatus Cantharidus iris : synonym of Cantharidus opalus Cantharidus kotschyi : synonym of Osilinus kotschyi Cantharidus lepidus Philippi, R.A., 1849: synonym of Strigosella lepida Cantharidus macquariensis : synonym of Margarella macquariensis Hedley, 1916Cantharidus montagui : synonym of Jujubinus montagui Cantharidus mortenseni : synonym of Roseaplagis mortenseni Cantharidus oliveri Iredale, 1915: synonym of Cantharidus sanguineus Cantharidus parcipictus : synonym of Cantharidus tenebrosus A. Adams, 1853 Cantharidus picturatum A. Adams, 1851: synonym of Calliostoma picturatum Cantharidus pliciferus Schepman, 1908: synonym of Perrinia plicifera Cantharidus polychroma : synonym of Jujubinus polychroma Cantharidus pruninus Gould, 1849: synonym of Cantharidus capillaceus Cantharidus pruninus minor E. A. Smith, 1902: synonym of Cantharidus capillaceus Cantharidus pruninus perobtusus Pilsbry, H.A., 1889: synonym of Cantharidus capillaceus Cantharidus pulcherrimus : synonym of Prothalotia pulcherrima Cantharidus purpureus : synonym of Micrelenchus purpureus Cantharidus roseus : synonym of Cantharidus antipodum Cantharidus rufozona : synonym of Roseaplagis rufozona Cantharidus sanguineus : synonym of Micrelenchus sanguineus Cantharidus sanguineus bakeri Fleming, 1948: synonym of Cantharidus artizona A. Adams, 1853 Cantharidus sanguineus var. caelatus Hutton, 1884: synonym of Cantharidus caelatus Hutton, 1884Cantharidus sanguineus cryptus : synonym of Cantharidus sanguineus Cantharidus sanguineus var. elongata Suter, 1897: synonym of Cantharidus artizona A. Adams, 1853Cantharidus simulatus Hutton: synonym of Cantharidus dilatatus Cantharidus suarezensis : synonym of Jujubinus suarezensis Cantharidus suturalis : synonym of Prothalotia suturalis Cantharidus tenebrosus A. Adams, 1851: synonym of Micrelenchus tenebrosus Cantharidus tenebrosus var. huttonii : synonym of Cantharidus huttonii Cantharidus tessellatus : synonym of Micrelenchus tesselatus Cantharidus tristis Thiele, 1930: synonym of Jujubinus polychromus Cantharidus urbanus : synonym of Iwakawatrochus urbanus Cantharidus zealandicus A. Adams, 1851: synonym of ''Cantharidus opalus''