Scissurellidae
Scissurellidae, sometimes known by the common name little slit snails, are a taxonomic family of minute sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs or micromolluscs in the clade Vetigastropoda.
The shells of these snails vary in adult size from less than 6 mm to less than 1 mm.
Distribution
Scissurellids occur world-wide, from the intertidal zone down to the abyssal depths, including around hydrothermal vents.Taxonomy
There are about 169 living described species of Scissurellidae, but the diversity of scissurellids is still far from being completely assessed. The monophyly of the family is questionable.In 2003, there were about twenty-five genera divided into five subfamilies . Three of these subfamilies were later updated to family level.
According to the Taxonomy of the [Gastropoda (Bouchet & Rocroi, 2005)|taxonomy of the Gastropoda by Bouchet & Rocroi, 2005]), this family consisted of the two following subfamilies :
- Scissurellinae Gray, 1847 - synonym: Depressizoninae Geiger, 2003; now accepted with family rank Scissurellidae.
- Larocheinae Finlay, 1927: now elevated to family rank as Larocheidae.
Genera
Genera in the family Scissurellidae include:Coronadoa Bartsch, 1915Incisura Hedley, 1904Satondella Bandel, 1998Scissurella d'Orbigny, 1824Sinezona Finlay, 1927Sukashitrochus Habe & Kosuge, 1964Triassurella A. Nützel and D. L. Geiger. 2006;Genera brought into synonymy:Ariella Bandel, 1998: synonym of Sinezona Finlay, 1926Daizona Bandel, 1998: synonym of Sinezona Finlay, 1926Maxwellella Bandel, 1998: synonym of Scissurella d'Orbigny, 1824
- † Praescissurella Lozouet, 1998: synonym of Scissurella d'Orbigny, 1824
- † Reussella Bandel, 1998: synonym of Scissurella d'Orbigny, 1824Schismope Jeffreys, 1856: synonym of Scissurella d'Orbigny, 1824Scissurona Iredale, 1824: synonym of Incisura Hedley, 1904Temnocinclis - in its own family SutilizonidaeTemnozaga - in its own family SutilizonidaeWoodwardia Crosse & P. Fischer, 1861: synonym of Scissurella d'Orbigny, 1824