Marginella


Marginella is a very large genus of small tropical and temperate sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the subfamily Marginellinae of the family Marginellidae, the margin snails. It is a type of genus family.
The shells of species in this genus are rounded, smooth and glossy, with a large aperture that appears to be toothed because it shows the edge of the columellar folds. In many species the shells are colorful. The glossy surface of the shell results from the fact that the mantle covers most of the shell when the animal is active. As is typical in the Neogastropoda, the animal has a long siphon. When the animal is active, the foot extends much further out than the edge of the shell.
As is also typical for the Neogastropoda, species in this genus are carnivorous and also predatory.

Etymology

Marginella means "little margin".

Shell description

The shells of the species in this genus have spires which range from moderately elevated to flattened. The surface of the shell is glossy and porcellaneous, and it is often but not always colourful. The columella has four definite, subequal plaits on its anterior half. The outer lip is thickened, and generally denticulate inside, with distinct teeth or folds. The siphonal canal is not deeply incised.
There is no operculum.

Description of the soft parts

In the living animal, the mantle only partly extends over the shell when the animal is moving.
The head is bifurcated, with slender tentacles and eyes in small bulges lateral to the base of tentacles. The siphon is large and protrudes over the head. The foot is large and flat, and when it is extended is slightly longer than the shell.

Ecology

Distribution

This genus is found in tropical and temperate seas worldwide.

Species

Species within the genus Marginella include:
  • Marginella adamasoides Lussi, 2013
  • Marginella adamkusi Bozzetti, 1994
  • Marginella aequinoctialis Boyer & Simbille, 2004
  • Marginella agadirensis T. Cossignani, 2022
  • Marginella aikeni V. Veldsman & S. G. Veldsman, 2012
  • Marginella albidens R. Aiken, 2019
  • Marginella albocincta Sowerby, 1846
  • Marginella alborubra Rosado & Monteiro, 2015
  • Marginella albospira S. G. Veldsman, 2013
  • Marginella aletae S. G. Veldsman, 2024
  • Marginella aliwalensis S. G. Veldsman, 2013
  • Marginella almae S. G. Veldsman, 2024
  • Marginella amazona Bavay, 1912
  • Marginella amirantensis Boyer & Rosado, 2019
  • Marginella anapaulae Massier, 2004
  • Marginella angsanana K. Martin, 1921
  • Marginella anna Jousseaume, 1881
  • † Marginella antepiperata R. Aiken, 2020
  • Marginella arcana S. G. Veldsman, Aiken & J. H. Veldsman, 2014
  • † Marginella arena Cotton, 1949
  • Marginella aronnax Bouchet & Warén, 1985
  • Marginella aurantia Lamarck, 1822
  • † Marginella aurisleporis †
  • † Marginella aurora Dall, 1890
  • Marginella aurugo S. G. Veldsman, 2022
  • Marginella bairstowi Sowerby, 1886
  • Marginella bavayi Dautzenberg, 1910
  • † Marginella beberkiriana K. Martin, 1906
  • Marginella belcheri Hinds, 1844
  • Marginella benthedii Boyer & Rosado, 2019
  • Marginella bicatenata Sowerby, 1914
  • Marginella blanco S. G. Veldsman & J. H. Veldsman, 2024
  • Marginella boetveldsmani S. G.Veldsman, 2024
  • Marginella bombus S. G. Veldsman, 2022
  • Marginella britoi Rolán & Gori, 2014
  • Marginella broderickae Hayes, 2001
  • Marginella buffaloensis S. G. Veldsman, 2024
  • Marginella caliginosa S. G. Velsdman & V. Veldsman, 2024
  • Marginella carlae S. G. Veldsman, 2013
  • Marginella carmenae Ortega & Gofas, 2019
  • Marginella carquejai Gofas & Fernandes, 1994
  • Marginella catenata Boyer & Rosado, 2019
  • Marginella caterinae Bozzetti, 1991
  • Marginella celestae Massier & Rosado, 2008
  • Marginella celosia S. G. Veldsman, 2021
  • Marginella chalmersi Tomlin & Shackleford, 1912
  • † Marginella charma Cotton, 1949
  • Marginella circumflexa S. G. Veldsman, 2021
  • Marginella claustra Boyer & Rosado, 2019
  • † Marginella clenchi M. Smith, 1936
  • Marginella cleryi Petit De La Saussaye, 1836
  • † Marginella clima Cotton, 1949
  • Marginella cloveri Rios & Matthews, 1972
  • Marginella colombi T. Cossignani, 2012
  • Marginella colomborum
  • Marginella confortinii Bozzetti, 1992
  • Marginella confusa R. Aiken, 2019
  • Marginella coovertorum S. G. Veldsman & J. H. Veldsman, 2022
  • Marginella coronata Boyer & Rosado, 2019
  • Marginella cosmia Bartsch, 1915
  • Marginella croceus S. G. Veldsman, 2015
  • Marginella davisae S. G. Veldsman, 2021
  • † Marginella deshayesi Michelotti, 1847
  • Marginella desjardini Marche-Marchad, 1957
  • Marginella diadochus Adams & Reeve, 1848
  • † Marginella dijki K. Martin, 1884
  • Marginella dilucida S. G. Velsdman & V. Veldsman, 2024
  • Marginella dimidiata Thiele, 1925
  • Marginella donaikeni S. G. Veldsman, J. H. Veldsman & R. Aiken, 2016
  • Marginella dyoseires R. Aiken & Seccombe, 2022
  • Marginella edwardensis S. G. Veldsman, 2013
  • Marginella elegans T. Cossignani, 2021
  • Marginella elegantissima S. G. Veldsman, 2021
  • Marginella elephantina S. G. Veldsman, 2013
  • Marginella elioi S. G. Veldsman & J. H. Veldsman, 2024
  • Marginella emmae Bozzetti, 1998
  • Marginella epipolia Tomlin, 1921
  • Marginella eucosmia Bartsch, 1915
  • Marginella evansorum V. Veldsman, S.G. Veldsman & Aiken, 2012
  • Marginella everriculum S. G. Veldsman, 2018
  • Marginella exigua S. G. Veldsman, 2021
  • Marginella falsebayensis V. Velsdman & S. G. Veldsman, 2012
  • Marginella felixi Massier, 2004
  • Marginella festiva Kiener, 1841
  • Marginella fimbriata Boyer & Rosado, 2019
  • Marginella fishhoenkensis Massier, 2004
  • Marginella floccata Sowerby, 1889
  • Marginella florescopicturata S. G. Veldsman, 2024
  • † Marginella formosa M. Smith, 1946
  • Marginella fraserorum Aiken, 2014
  • Marginella fulvocincta W. H. Turton, 1932
  • Marginella fuscopicta W. H. Turton, 1932
  • Marginella gabrielae Bozzetti, 1998
  • Marginella gemma Adams, 1850
  • Marginella gemmula Bavay in Dautzenberg, 1913
  • Marginella gennesi H. Fisher, 1901
  • Marginella geraldi Lussi, 2006
  • Marginella gilva Goud & Neefs, 1996
  • † Marginella giuntellii Sosso, Brunetti & Dell'Angelo, 2015
  • Marginella glabella
  • Marginella gloriosa Jousseaume, 1884
  • † Marginella goncalvesi R. Aiken, 2020
  • Marginella gonubiensis S. G. Veldsman, 2024
  • Marginella goodalli Sowerby, 1825
  • Marginella gracilenta S. G. Veldsman, 2015
  • † Marginella grissensis K. Martin, 1884
  • Marginella groenewaldi S. G. Veldsman, 2024
  • Marginella gustavoi Pérez-Dionis, Ortea & Espinosa, 2009
  • Marginella harveyorum R. Aiken, 2019
  • Marginella hayesi Bozzetti, 1993
  • Marginella helmatina Rang, 1832
  • Marginella henrikasi Bozzetti, 1995
  • Marginella hernandezi Rolán & Gori, 2014
  • Marginella himburgae Massier & Zettler, 2009
  • † Marginella hordeacea Tate, 1878
  • Marginella houtbaaiensis S. G. Veldsman, 2013
  • Marginella huberti Clover, 1972
  • Marginella humeronotata S. G. Veldsman & R. Aiken, 2022
  • Marginella hybrida Cossignani, 2006
  • † Marginella iberica Landau, La Perna & Marquet, 2006
  • † Marginella ickei K. Martin, 1916
  • Marginella ignifer S. G. Veldsman, 2017
  • Marginella immelmani Hart M., 2001
  • Marginella impudica P. Fischer, 1883
  • Marginella irrorata Menke, 1828
  • Marginella jeareyae R. Aiken & Seccombe, 2022
  • Marginella jeffreysbayensis S. G. Veldsman, 2017
  • Marginella joanae Bozzetti, 2001
  • Marginella joanmassierae Bozzetti, 1992
  • Marginella joostei Liltved & Millard, 1994
  • Marginella keiensis S. G. Veldsman, 2017
  • Marginella jucunda S. G. Veldsman, 2017
  • Marginella kilburni Lussi, 2013
  • Marginella lamarcki Boyer, 2004
  • Marginella lateritia Melvill & Sykes, 1903
  • Marginella lauriesmithi S. G. Veldsman, 2020
  • Marginella leilaniae S. G. Veldsman, 2022
  • Marginella lemaitrei Liltved & Millard, 1994
  • Marginella leoi S. G. Veldsman, 2013
  • Marginella limbata Lamarck, 1822
  • Marginella lindae S. G. Veldsman, 2013
  • Marginella lindaswartae S. G. Veldsman, 2024
  • Marginella lineofasciata Bozzetti, 1992
  • Marginella lineolata Sowerby, 1886
  • Marginella liparozona Tomlin & Shackleford, 1913
  • Marginella lucani Jousseaume, 1884
  • Marginella luculenta Gofas & Fernandes, 1994
  • Marginella lussii Hayes & Millard, 1995
  • Marginella lutea Sowerby, 1889
  • Marginella maculata S. G. Veldsman, 2013
  • † Marginella mala Cotton, 1949
  • Marginella malva S. G. Veldsman, 2021
  • Marginella manzimtotiensis S. G. Veldsman, 2017
  • Marginella mariaodetai Cossignani, 2010
  • Marginella mariaodeteae Cossignani, 2014
  • Marginella marimba Gofas & Fernandes, 1994
  • Marginella marocana Locard, 1897
  • Marginella martiae S. G. Veldsman, 2017
  • Marginella mattavellii T. Cossignani, 2021
  • Marginella mattheeorum V. Veldsman, S. G. Veldsman & Aiken, 2012
  • Marginella mauretanica Boyer & Neefs, 1999
  • Marginella mbotyiensis Aiken, 2014
  • Marginella mella S. G. Veldsman, 2022
  • Marginella melvilli Tomlin & Shackleford, 1913
  • Marginella michelae T. Cossignani, 2012
  • Marginella millardi Lussi, 1993
  • Marginella miniroseolineata R. Aiken, 2019
  • Marginella minuscula
  • Marginella mirandai Rolán & Gori, 2014
  • Marginella monicae Bozzetti, 1997
  • Marginella monozona Turton, 1932
  • Marginella mooi R. Aiken, 2019
  • Marginella mosaica Sowerby, 1846
  • Marginella mosterti S. G. Veldsman, R. Aiken & J. H. Veldsman, 2017
  • Marginella munda E.A. Smith, 1904
  • Marginella musica Hinds, 1844
  • Marginella mzimayiensis S. G. Veldsman, Aiken & J. H. Veldsman, 2015
  • Marginella nahoonensis S. G. Velsdman & V. Veldsman, 2024
  • Marginella namaqua S. G. Veldsman & J. H. Veldsman, 2023
  • Marginella natalcinerea Massier, 1993
  • Marginella nebulosa
  • Marginella nevillana Kilburn, 1977
  • Marginella nigromaculata S. G. Veldsman, 2017
  • Marginella nimbosa S. G. Veldsman, 2013
  • † Marginella nitidula Deshayes, 1835
  • Marginella nkwaziensis S. G. Veldsman, 2017
  • Marginella obliqua S. G. Veldsman, Aiken & J. H. Veldsman, 2014
  • Marginella olearegina S. G. Veldsman, 2020
  • Marginella olivarum S. G. Veldsman & J. H. Veldsman, 2015
  • Marginella ornata Redfield, 1870
  • Marginella orstomi Coomans, 1975
  • † Marginella ovata I. Lea, 1833
  • Marginella pachista Tomlin 1913
  • Marginella palleukos Aiken, 2014
  • Marginella parkrynieensis V. Veldsman, S. G. Veldsman & Aiken, 2012
  • Marginella parvamaculofera S. G. Veldsman, 2024
  • Marginella peelae Bozzetti, 1993
  • Marginella perelegans S. G. Veldsman, 2021
  • Marginella persicum S. G. Veldsman, 2017
  • Marginella petitii Duval, 1841
  • Marginella philipi S. G. Veldsman, 2013
  • Marginella picturata G. Nevill & H. Nevill, 1874
  • Marginella piperata Hinds, 1844
  • Marginella pokkiae J. H. Veldsman & S. G. Veldsman, 2021
  • Marginella ponderosa S. G. Veldsman, 2022
  • Marginella pondo S. G. Veldsman, 2017
  • Marginella poppei Boyer & Neefs, 1999
  • Marginella praeacuta S. G. Veldsman & R. Aiken, 2022
  • Marginella praeclara S. G. Veldsman, 2021
  • Marginella procera Boyer & Rosado, 2019
  • Marginella pseudocleryi T. Cossignani, 2021
  • Marginella pseudodesjardini Le Béon, 2012
  • Marginella pseudoglabella Mattavelli, 2018
  • Marginella pseudopachista Aiken, 2014
  • † Marginella pseudopoppei R. Aiken, 2020
  • Marginella pseudornata Bozzetti, 1992
  • Marginella pseudorosea S. G. Veldsman, 2013
  • Marginella pseudosebastiani Mattavelli, 2001
  • Marginella pulex Ortega & Gofas, 2019
  • Marginella punctilineata E.A. Smith, 1899
  • Marginella puniceus S. G. Veldsman, 2014
  • Marginella purpurea Cossignani, 2006
  • Marginella raybaudiae F. Boyer & Rosado, 2024
  • † Marginella rembangensis K. Martin, 1906
  • † Marginella reussi K. Martin, 1879
  • Marginella richardsbayensis Lussi, 2013
  • Marginella rosadialeukos Aiken, 2014
  • Marginella rosea Lamarck, 1822
  • Marginella roseafasciata Massier, 1993
  • Marginella roseaflavescens S. G. Veldsman, J. H. Veldsman & Aiken, 2016
  • Marginella roseolineata Turton, 1932
  • Marginella rubescens S. G. Veldsman, 2017
  • Marginella rubrocincta Turton, 1932
  • Marginella rubrovittata S. G. Veldsman, J. H. Veldsman & R. Aiken, 2016
  • Marginella rutila Boyer & Rosado, 2019
  • Marginella sagena S. G. Veldsman, 2018
  • Marginella salmorosea S. G. Veldsman, 2024
  • Marginella san S.G. Veldsman, 2014
  • Marginella schepmani Tomlin, 1916
  • Marginella scitula W. H. Turton, 1932
  • Marginella scusae T. Cossignani, 2023
  • Marginella sebastiani Marche-Marchad & Rosso, 1979
  • Marginella seccombei Wakefield, 2012
  • † Marginella seguenzai La Perna & Vazzana, 2016
  • Marginella senegalensis Clover, 1990
  • Marginella sergioi Bozzetti, 1997
  • Marginella shellyensis S. G. Veldsman, 2021
  • Marginella signata Boyer & Rosado, 2019
  • Marginella sima S. G. Veldsman, 2021
  • † Marginella simplicissima K. Martin, 1879
  • Marginella simulata Gofas & Fernandes, 1994
  • Marginella singularis S. G. Veldsman, 2016
  • Marginella slateri Lussi, 2017
  • Marginella sodwanaensis S. G. Veldsman, 2021
  • Marginella spadix S. G. Veldsman, 2016
  • Marginella spengleri Aiken, 2014
  • Marginella spinacia Gofas & Fernandes, 1988
  • Marginella spiralineata B.Hayes, 1994
  • Marginella squamosa Boyer & Rosado, 2019
  • Marginella stellata S. G. Veldsman, 2022
  • † Marginella stephaniae Pereira da Costa, 1866
  • Marginella stephmani V. Veldsman & Aiken, 2012
  • Marginella storea Boyer & Rosado, 2019
  • Marginella stuarti Kilburn, 1977
  • Marginella subturrita P. Fischer, 1883
  • Marginella sulizeae S. G. Veldsman & J. H. Veldsman, 2015
  • Marginella susanae Veldsman & Jooste, 2009
  • Marginella svevae Cossignani, 2014
  • Marginella tagaroae R. Aiken, 2019
  • † Marginella tambacana K. Martin, 1884
  • Marginella tentoria Lussi, 2013
  • Marginella tenuiparva R. Aiken, 2019
  • Marginella textilis S. G. Veldsman & J. H. Veldsman, 2014
  • Marginella thos S. G. Veldsman, 2013
  • Marginella tomlini Shackleford, 1916
  • † Marginella tomuiensis MacNeil, 1961
  • Marginella torpedo S. G. Veldsman, 2024
  • Marginella trafalgarensis R. Aiken, 2019
  • Marginella transkeiensis S. G. Veldsman, 2013
  • Marginella trixiae V. Veldsman & S. G. Veldsman, 2013
  • Marginella tugelaensis S. G. Veldsman, 2017
  • Marginella tuguriana Lussi, 1993
  • Marginella umgababaensis S. G. Veldsman, 2021
  • Marginella umkomaasensis S. G. Veldsman, 2021
  • Marginella umlaasiana S. G. Veldsman, 2017
  • Marginella umzumbeensis S. G. Veldsman, Aiken & J. H. Veldsman, 2016
  • Marginella undulans Gofas & Fernandes, 1994
  • Marginella unifractistriata S. G. Veldsman & J. H. Veldsman, 2024
  • Marginella valae S. G. Veldsman, 2020
  • Marginella velai T. Cossignani & Ahuir, 2020
  • † Marginella velata K. Martin, 1884
  • Marginella velliesi S. G. Veldsman & Aiken, 2015
  • Marginella venteri R. Aiken, 2019
  • Marginella verdascai Hayes & Rosado, 2007
  • Marginella verrilli Morrison, 1967
  • Marginella vexillum Redfield, 1852
  • Marginella vidalensis S. G. Veldsman, 2017
  • Marginella viljoenae S. G. Veldsman, 2013
  • Marginella violea R. Aiken & Seccombe, 2022
  • Marginella vircula S. G. Veldsman, 2024
  • Marginella visayae Mattavelli, 2021
  • Marginella wallaceorum Lussi, 2013
  • Marginella werneri Bozzetti, 1993
  • Marginella westhuizeni Massier, 1993
  • † Marginella woodsi Tate, 1878
  • Marginella xhosa Liltved & Millard, 1994
  • Marginella xoraensis R. Aiken, 2019
  • Marginella zebroides S. G. Veldsman, 2013
  • Marginella zigzag Seccombe & R. Aiken, 2022
  • Marginella zulu S. G. Veldsman, 2017
  • † Marginella zwartkopsensis R. Aiken, 2020
;Species inquirenda:
  • Marginella claudoni Bavay, date unknown:
  • Marginella delphinica Bavay, 1920:
  • Marginella dispoliata Jousseaume, 1922
  • Marginella lineatolabrum Gaskoin, 1840
  • Marginella peasii Reeve, 1865
  • Marginella scalariformis Duclos, date unknown:
  • Marginella terverianella Bavay, 1922
  • Marginella virgula Jousseaume, 1922:
;Nomen dubium, i.e. a name of unknown or doubtful application:
  • Marginella granum Philippi, 1849:
  • Marginella indistincta W. H. Turton, 193
  • Marginella pyrrha W. H. Turton, 1932