Neritidae


Neritidae, common name the nerites, is a family of small to medium-sized saltwater and freshwater snails which have a gill and a distinctive operculum.
The family Neritidae includes marine genera such as Nerita, marine and freshwater genera such as Neritina, and freshwater and brackish water genera such as Theodoxus.
The common name "nerite" as well as the family name Neritidae and the genus name Nerita, are derived from the name of Nerites, who was a sea god in Greek mythology.

Distribution

Neritidae live primarily in the southern hemisphere, but there are some exceptions, such as a genus Theodoxus which can be found in Europe and Northern Africa or Bathynerita naticoidea.

Taxonomy

This family consists of the five following subfamilies :
  • Neritinae Rafinesque, 1815 - synonyms: Neritellinae Gray, 1847; Proto neritidae Kittl, 1899
  • Neritariinae Wenz, 1938
  • Neritininae Poey, 1852
  • * tribe Neritinini Poey, 1852 - synonyms: Catilinae Gray, 1868; Orthopomatini Gray, 1868; Stenopomatini Gray, 1868; Septariini Jousseaume, 1894
  • * tribe Theodoxini Bandel, 2001
  • Smaragdiinae H. B. Baker, 1923
  • Velatinae Bandel, 2001

Genera

Genera, subgenera and species within the family Neritidae include:
Subfamily Neritinae
Subfamily † Neritariinae
Subfamily Neritininae
Subfamily Smaragdiinae
Subfamily † Velatinae

Synonyms

  • Agapilia Harzhauser & Kowalke, 2001 : synonym of Vitta Mörch, 1852
  • Navicella Lamarck, 1816: synonym of Septaria Férussac, 1807
  • Ninniopsis Tomlin, 1930: synonym of † Theodoxus Tomlin, 1930 represented as Theodoxus Montfort, 1810
  • Orthopoma Gray, 1868: synonym of Septaria Férussac, 1807
  • Orthopomatini Gray, 1868: synonym of Neritininae Poey, 1852
  • Paranerita Bourne, 1908: synonym of Vittina H. B. Baker, 1923
  • Pseudonerita H. B. Baker, 1923: synonym of Neripteron H. B. Baker, 1923 represented as Neripteron Lesson, 1831
  • Serenia Benson, 1856: synonym of Neritona Martens, 1869
  • Tanalia Gray, 1847: synonym of Neritona Martens, 1869
  • Theodoxia Bourguignat, 1877: synonym of Theodoxus Montfort, 1810
  • Theodoxis Montfort, 1810: synonym of Theodoxus Montfort, 1810