Persicula


Persicula is a taxonomic genus of minute to small predatory sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks. It includes several species which are micromollusks.
This genus is placed in the family Cystiscidae. It was previously in the family Marginellidae the margin snails. Both families are within the order Neogastropoda.

Habitat

Species in this genus live from the intertidal zone to 370 meters in depth.

Shell description

In this genus the shell is minute to small. It can be uniformly colored or white, and the color can be patterned. The shell is moderately thick to thick. The spire is usually immersed. The lip of the aperture is thickened, and weakly to strongly lirate.
An external varix can be present or absent. There is a distinct siphonal notch present and a posterior notch is also present. The columella is multiplicate, with 4 to 13 plications plus parietal lirae.

Description of soft parts

The animal has long tentacles, and the siphon is also usually long. The mantle appears not to extend completely over the external shell surface.

Species

The separation between the genera Persicula and Gibberula is not well-defined. It is based on morphological differences with the larger species belonging to Persicula, while the smaller species belong to Gibberula. Many species with characteristics that fall between the two extremes, are ambiguous. Up to now there is no phylogenetic analysis to substantiate this rather arbitrary classification.
According to the World Register of Marine Species, the following species with valid names are included within the genus Persicula :Persicula accola B. Roth & Coan, 1968Persicula albomaculata Persicula bagne Faber, 2006Persicula bahamasensis Petuch, 2002Persicula bandera Coan & Roth, 1965Persicula blanda Hinds, 1844Persicula brinkae Bozzetti, 1993Persicula calculus
; Taxa inquirenda:Persicula adamsiana Pilsbry & Love, 1932 Persicula bulbulina Locard, 1897 Persicula crossei Vélain, 1877Persicula glandina Vélain, 1877 Persicula polyodonta Vélain, 1877

Synonyms

Persicula alborubida Barnard, 1969: synonym of Cystiscus pseustes Persicula aldridgei Nowell-Usticke, 1969: synonym of Gibberula aldridgei Persicula cassidiforme Gaskoin, 1853 : synonym of Pachybathron cassidiforme Persicula catenata Montagu, 1803 : synonym of Gibberula catenata Persicula chudeaui Bavay: synonym of Gibberula chudeaui Persicula cypraeoides Adams, 1845 : synonym of Pachybathron cypraeoides Persicula dalli Morretes, 1941: synonym of Archierato dalli Persicula dentiformis Thiele, 1930: synonym of Gibberula dentiformis Persicula fluctuata Adams, 1850 : synonym of Gibberula fluctuata Persicula grisea Jousseaume, 1875: synonym of Cryptospira grisea Persicula kienerianum Petit, 1838 : synonym of Pachybathron kieneriana Persicula lucens Locard, 1897: synonym of Persicula blanda Persicula lucida : synonym of Hyalina lucida Persicula maculata Swainson, 1840: synonym of Persicula persicula Persicula maldiviana T. Cossignani, 2001: synonym of Gibberula maldiviana Persicula miliaria : synonym of Gibberula miliaria Persicula nigrocrocea Barnard, 1969: synonym of Plesiocystiscus aphanospira Persicula obesa : synonym of Persicula tessellata Persicula persiculocingulata Tournier, 1997 : synonym of Persicula persicula Persicula pisiformis Thiele, 1930: synonym of Cystiscus cymbalum Persicula pulchella : synonym of Gibberula pulchella Persicula saharica Locard, 1897: synonym of Persicula blanda Persicula tantilla Gould, 1860: synonym of Granulina tantilla Persicula tayrona Diaz & Velasquez, 1987: synonym of Pachybathron tayrona Díaz, J.M. & Velasquez, 1987Persicula thomensis : synonym of Gibberula thomensis Persicula variabilis Schumacher, 1817: synonym of ''Persicula persicula''