Triphoridae


Triphoridae is a family of very small sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the informal group Ptenoglossa, within the clade Hypsogastropoda. Almost all the species in this family are micromollusks and almost all are left-handed in shell-coiling.

Distribution

Species of this family can be found worldwide, but the major part occurs in the Indo-Pacific Region. Most species live between the intertidal zone and offshore to a depth between 200 m to 500 m.

Shell description

The shells of triphorids are small and extremely high-spired, with numerous narrow whorls which often have distinctive sculpture. The majority of species in this family are left-handed or sinistral.

Taxonomy

Facts about their taxonomy are rather scant, complicated by the high diversity and the intra- and inter-specific variability of the species. Most triphorid collections available in Museums of Natural History are still undescribed.
The following subfamilies were recognized in the taxonomy of Bouchet & Rocroi of 2005:
  • Iniforinae Kosuge, 1966
  • Metaxiinae Marshall, 1977
  • Triphorinae Gray, 1847
Gründel, stated that the correct family name is Triforidae Jousseaume, 1884 and not Triphoridae, but this is only true when the genera Triforis and Triphora are placed in the same family. Marshall however stated that the two genera need to be placed in two different families: the Triforidae and the Triphoridae. WoRMS do not recognise these 3 subfamilies and consider them alternative representation of Triphoridae.

Genera

Genera within the family Triphoridae include:Aclophora Laseron, 1958Aclophoropsis Marshall, 1983Bouchetriphora Marshall, 1983Cautor Finlay, 1927Cautotriphora Laws, 1940Cheirodonta Marshall, 1983Coriophora Laseron, 1958Cosmotriphora Olsson and Harbison, 1953Costatophora B. A. Marshall, 1994 Differoforis Kosuge, 2008Euthymella Thiele, 1929Eutriphora Cotton & Godfrey, 1931Hedleytriphora Marshall, 1983Hypotriphora Cotton & Godfrey, 1931Inella Bayle, 1879Iniforis Jousseaume, 1884Isotriphora Cotton & Godfrey, 1931Latitriphora Marshall, 1983Liniphora Laseron, 1958Litharium Dall, 1924Magnosinister Laseron, 1954Marshallora Bouchet, 1985Mastonia Hinds, 1843Mastoniaeforis Jousseaume, 1884Metaxia Monterosato, 1884Monophorus Grillo, 1877Nanaphora Laseron, 1958Nototriphora Marshall, 1983Obesula Jousseaume, 1897Opimaphora Laseron, 1958Pogonodon Bouchet, 1997Sagenotriphora B.A. Marshall, 1983Seilarex Iredale, 1924Similiphora Bouchet, 1985Strobiligera Dall, 1924Subulophora Laseron, 1958Sychar Hinds, 1843Talophora Gründel, 1975Teretriphora Finlay, 1927Triphora Blainville, 1828Viriola Jousseaume, 1884Viriolopsis Marshall, 1983
; Genera brought into synonymy :Biforina Bucquoy, Dautzenberg & Dollfus, 1884 : synonym of Monophorus Grillo, 1877Brucetriphora Beu, 2004: synonym of Costatophora B. A. Marshall, 1994Distophora Laseron, 1958:synonym of Cautor Finlay, 1927Epiforis Laseron, 1958:synonym of Mastoniaeforis Jousseaume, 1884Euthymia Jousseaume, 1884:synonym of Euthymella Thiele, 1929Ino Hinds, 1843:synonym of Inella Bayle, 1879Macrosinister:synonym of Magnosinister Laseron, 1954Mastoniaeformis : synonym of Mastoniaeforis Jousseaume, 1884Mesophora Laseron, 1958: synonym of Coriophora Laseron, 1958Notosinister Finlay, 1926: synonym of Monophorus Grillo, 1877Orbitophora Laseron, 1958:synonym of Viriola Jousseaume, 1884Risbecia Kosuge, 1966:synonym of Differoforis Kosuge, 2008Sinistroseila W. R. B. Oliver, 1915: synonym of Viriola Jousseaume, 1884Solosinister Laseron, 1954:synonym of Viriola Jousseaume, 1884Tetraphora Laseron, 1958:synonym of Brucetriphora Beu, 2004Torresophora Laseron, 1958: synonym of Euthymella Thiele, 1929Triforis Deshayes, 1834:synonym of Triphora Blainville, 1828Triphoris:synonym of Triphora Blainville, 1828