Chrysallidini
Chrysallidinae is a taxonomic group of very small sea snails, marine gastropod mollusk in the family Pyramidellidae, the pyrams and their allies.
Taxonomy
Chrysallidinae has been one of eleven recognized subfamilies of the gastropod family Pyramidellidae.According to Schander, Van Aartsen & Corgan there are 47 genera in this subfamily, four additional genera may also be a part of this taxon.
In the taxonomy of Bouchet & Rocroi, this subfamily has been downgraded to the rank of tribe Chrysallidini in the subfamily Odostomiinae.
Genera
Genera in the subfamily Chrysallidinae include:Chrysallida Carpenter, 1856 - type genusBabella Dall, & Bartsch, 1906Bartrumella Laws, 1940Besla Dall & Bartsch, 1904Boonea Robertson, 1978Egila Dall, & Bartsch, 1904Euparthenia Thiele, 1929Eupyrgulina Melvill, 1910Eurathea Laseron, 1959Evalina Dall & Bartsch, 1904Fargoa Bartsch, 1955Folinella Dall, & Bartsch, 1904Gurmatia Dance & Eames, 1966Haldra Dall, & Bartsch, 1904Helodiamea Peñas & Rolán, 2017 Hinemoa Oliver, 1915Iolaea A. Adams, 1867Ivara Dall & Bartsch in Arnold, 1903Kongsrudia Lygra & Schander, 2010Laseronella Whitley, 1959Levipyrgulina Laws, 1941Liamorpha Pilsbry, 1898 Linopyrga Laws, 1941Menesthella Nomura, 1939Menestho Möller, 1842Miralda A. Adams, 1863Miraldella Bartsch, 1955Monotygma J. E. Gray, 1847Mumiola A. Adams, 1863Numaegilina Nomura, 1938Ovalina Peñas & Rolán, 2017Oscilla A. Adams, 1861Parthenina Bucquoy, Dauzenberg & Dollfus, 1883Perparthenina Nordsieck, 1972Polemicella Saurin, 1959Prestoniella Saurin, 1958Pseudoscilla Boettger, 1901Pukeuria Laws, 1941Pyrgulina A. Adams, 1863Quirella Laseron, 1959Ravnostomia Adegoke, 1977Salassia De Folin, 1870Salassiella Dall & Bartsch, 1909Siogamaia Nomura, 1936Spiralinella Chaster, 1901Standeniella Saurin, 1958Strioturbonilla Sacco, 1892Trabecula Monterosato, 1884Tragula Monterosato, 1884Waikura Marwick, 1931Possible extra genera
Genera likely to reside in the subfamily Chrysallidinae include:Raulinia Mayer, 1864Rugadentia Laseron, 1951Stylopyramis Thiele, 1929Taphrostomia Cossmann, 1921Distribution
This family is found worldwide, from the tropics to the Arctic.Shell description
The shell of these snails has a blunt, heterostrophic protoconch, which is often wrapped up. The texture of these shells is sculptured in various forms such as ribs and spirals. Their color is mostly white, cream or yellowish. The teleoconch is dextrally coiled, but the larval shells are sinistral. This results in a sinistrally coiled protoconch. The columella has one, spiral fold. The aperture is closed by an operculum.Life habits
The Chrysallidinae are ectoparasites, feeding mainly on other molluscs and on annelid worms.They do not have a radula. Instead their long proboscis is used to pierce the skin of its prey and suck up its fluids and soft tissues. The eyes on the grooved tentacles are situated toward the base of the tentacles. Between the head and the foot, a lobed process called the mentum is visible.
These molluscs are hermaphrodites, laying eggs in jelly-like masses on the shell of its host.