Scissurellidae, sometimes known by the common name little slit snails, are a taxonomic family of minute sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs or micromolluscs in the clade Vetigastropoda (according to the taxonomy of the Gastropoda by Bouchet & Rocroi, 2005).Bouchet, P. (2011). Scissurellidae. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=1730 on 2011-05-08
The shells of these snails vary in adult size from less than 6 mm to less than 1 mm.
Distribution Scissurellids occur world-wide, from the intertidal zone down to the abyssal depths, including around hydrothermal vents.
Taxonomy There are about 169 living described species of Scissurellidae, but the diversity of scissurellids is still far from being completely assessed (approximately 60 collected species await description).Geiger D. L. (2006). "Eight new species of Scissurellidae and Anatomidae (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Vetigastropoda) from around the world, with discussion of two new senior synonyms". Zootaxa 1128: 1–33. PDF. The monophyly of the family is questionable.Geiger D. L. & Jansen P. (2004). "New species of Australian Scissurellidae (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Vetigastropoda) with remarks on Australian and Indo-Malayan species". Zootaxa 714: 1–72. abstract.
In 2003, there were about twenty-five genera divided into five subfamilies (Scissurellinae, Anatominae, Sutilizoninae, Temnocinclinae, Larocheinae) .Geiger D. L. (2003). "Phylogenetic assessment of characters proposed for the generic classification of Recent Scissurellidae (Gastropoda: Vetigastropoda) with a description of one new genus and six new species from Easter Island and Australia". Molluscan Research 23(1): 21-83. , abstract. PDF. Three of these subfamilies were later updated to family level.
According to the taxonomy of the Gastropoda by Bouchet & Rocroi, 2005), this family consisted of the two following subfamilies : Scissurellinae Gray, 1847 - synonym: Depressizoninae Geiger, 2003; now accepted with family rank Scissurellidae. Larocheinae Finlay, 1927: now elevated to family rank as Larocheidae.
However Geiger (2009)Geiger D. L.(8 May 2009) "A new species of Depressizona and the family rank of Depressizonidae". Zootaxa 2059: 57-59. abstract, full article. elevated Depressizoninae to the family rank as Depressizonidae.
Genera Genera in the family Scissurellidae include:Powell A. W. B., New Zealand Mollusca, William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1979 Seashells of NSW Coronadoa Bartsch, 1915 Incisura Hedley, 1904 Satondella Bandel, 1998 Scissurella d'Orbigny, 1824 Sinezona Finlay, 1927 Sukashitrochus Habe & Kosuge, 1964 Triassurella A. Nützel and D. L. Geiger. 2006 A. Nützel and D. L. Geiger. 2006. A new scissurelloid genus and species (Mollusca, Gastropoda) from the Late Triassic Cassian Formation. Paläontologische Zeitschrift 80(3):277-283
Genera brought into synonymy Ariella Bandel, 1998: synonym of Sinezona Finlay, 1926 Daizona Bandel, 1998: synonym of Sinezona Finlay, 1926 Maxwellella Bandel, 1998: synonym of Scissurella d'Orbigny, 1824 † Praescissurella Lozouet, 1998: synonym of Scissurella d'Orbigny, 1824 † Reussella Bandel, 1998: synonym of Scissurella d'Orbigny, 1824 Schismope Jeffreys, 1856: synonym of Scissurella d'Orbigny, 1824 Scissurona Iredale, 1824: synonym of Incisura Hedley, 1904 Temnocinclis - in its own family Sutilizonidae Temnozaga - in its own family Sutilizonidae Woodwardia Crosse & P. Fischer, 1861: synonym of Scissurella d'Orbigny, 1824
References
Geiger D.L. (2003). Phylogenetic assessment of characters proposed for the generic classification of Recent Scissurellidae (Gastropoda: Vetigastropoda) with a description of one new genus and six new species frop Easter Island and Australia. Molluscan Research 23:21-83 Geiger D.L. (2012) Monograph of the little slit shells. Volume 1. Introduction, Scissurellidae. pp. 1–728. Volume 2. Anatomidae, Larocheidae, Depressizonidae, Sutilizonidae, Temnocinclidae. pp. 729–1291. Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Monographs Number 7.
Further reading
Marshall B. A. (2002). "Some recent scissurellids from the New Zealand region and remarks on some scissurellid genus group names (Mollusca : Gastropoda : Vetigastropoda)". Molluscan Research 22(2): 165–181. , PDF. Zelaya D. G. & Geiger D. L. (2007). "Species Of Scissurellidae and Anatomidae From Sub-Antarctic and Antarctic Waters (Gastropoda: Vetigastropoda)". Malacologia 49(2): 393–443.
External links Natural History Museum Rotterdam page of images of this family