Ringiculidae are a family of small deep water sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks or micromollusks in the informal group Lower Heterobranchia. Bouchet P. & Rocroi J.-P. (Ed.); Frýda J., Hausdorf B., Ponder W., Valdes A. & Warén A. 2005. Classification and nomenclator of gastropod families. Malacologia: International Journal of Malacology, 47(1-2). ConchBooks: Hackenheim, Germany. . . 397 pp. http://www.vliz.be/Vmdcdata/imis2/ref.php?refid=78278
Ringiculidae is the only family within the superfamily Ringiculoidea.
The shells of species in this family superficially resemble minute versions of the shells of the Cassinae.
Characteristics (Original description in German) The shell is generally spherical, though in rare cases, it can be an elongated oval shape. Its aperture is crescent-shaped and lacks both a siphonal canal and a notch. The outer lip is typically thickened and reflected, while the columella is folded. This family is distinguished from Marginella and related genera by the absence of a notch at the base of the aperture; it differs from the Bullidae by its thickened outer lip.
Genera Genera in the family Ringiculidae include:Powell A. W. B., New Zealand Mollusca, William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1979 † Avellana d'Orbigny, 1842 † Biplica Popenoe, 1957 † Eriptycha F. B. Meek, 1876 † Gilbertina Morlet, 1888 Microglyphis Dall, 1902 † Oligoptycha F. B. Meek, 1876 Pseudoringicula Lin, 1980 Ringicula Deshayes, 1838 † Ringiculocosta Sacco, 1892 Ringiculoides Minichev, 1966 Ringiculopsis Chavan, 1947 Ringiculospongia Sacco, 1892 † Ringinella A. d'Orbigny, 1842 † Superstes H. J. Finlay & Marwick, 1937
Genera brought into synonymy † Eryptycha [sic]: synonym of † Eriptycha F. B. Meek, 1876 (misspelling - incorrect subsequent spelling) † Euptycha [sic] : synonym of † Eriptycha F. B. Meek, 1876 (misspelling - incorrect subsequent spelling) † Gilbertia Cossmann, 1889: synonym of † Gilbertina Morlet, 1888 (unjustified emendation) Hyporingicula Habe, 1952: synonym of Microglyphis Dall, 1902 Plicatra F. Nordsieck, 1972: synonym of Ringicula Deshayes, 1838 Ringactaeon F. Nordsieck, 1972: synonym of Ringicula Deshayes, 1838 Ringiculadda Iredale, 1936: synonym of Ringiculina Monterosato, 1884: synonym of Ringicula (Ringiculina) Monterosato, 1884 represented as Ringicula Deshayes, 1838 Ringiculina Monterosato, 1884: synonym of Ringicula Deshayes, 1838
References
Vaught, K.C. (1989). A classification of the living Mollusca. American Malacologists: Melbourne, FL (USA). . XII, 195 pp. Bouchet P., Rocroi J.P., Hausdorf B., Kaim A., Kano Y., Nützel A., Parkhaev P., Schrödl M. & Strong E.E. (2017). Revised classification, nomenclator and typification of gastropod and monoplacophoran families. Malacologia. 61(1-2): 1-526
Further reading Morlet L. 1878. Monographie du genre Ringicula: et description de quelques especes nouvelles.