Velutinidae is a family of small sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the clade Littorinimorpha.Gofas, S. (2014). Velutinidae Gray, 1840. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=143 on 2014-10-14Philippe Bouchet, 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.
Description The length of the shell varies between 25 mm and 40 mm.
The shell of these animals is very thin and delicate, and internal, completely covered by the mantle (which has fused lobes) so the appearance of these animals more closely resembles that of dorid sea slugs rather than sea snails, but anatomically quite different. They are readily distinguished by the anterior siphon and typically snail-like, tentacle-bearing head beneath the anterior mantle. There are no rhinophores (chemosensory tentacles) or dorsal circlet of gills.
The shell is present but is completely internal. It is covered by a fleshy mantle. The ventral surface features a distinct foot and a head bearing tentacles with basal eyes. The anterior of the dorsal surface (notum) is indented along the midline, forming a short siphon. The mantle is relatively firm but has a somewhat gelatinous texture, appearing mostly smooth. The internal shell resembles an ear, being thin and fragile.
The colour is translucent, greyish-white to pinkish or yellow with black/brown spots and blotches. This colouration is variable, resembling that of the ascidian prey on which they live and feed and thus providing camouflage.
Taxonomy
The following subfamilies were recognized in the taxonomy of Bouchet & Rocroi (2005):
Subfamily Velutininae J. E. Gray, 1840 - synonyms: Marseniidae Leach in Gray, 1847; Marsenininae Odhner, 1913; Capulacmaeinae Golikov & Gulbin, 1990; Onchidiopsinae Golikov & Gulbin, 1990 (n.a.); Marseniopsidae Badel, 1993 (n.a.) Subfamily Lamellariinae A. D. d'Orbigny, 1841 - synonyms: Coriocellidae Troschel, 1848; Sacculidae Thiele, 1929 (inv.); Pseudosacculidae Kuroda, 1933 The following subfamilies were additionally recognized in the updated taxonomy of Fassio, Bouchet, Schiaparelli & Oliverio (2022):
Subfamily Marseniopsinae Fassio, Bouchet, Schiaparelli & Oliverio, 2022, sister to all other Velutinidae Subfamily Hainotinae Fassio, Bouchet, Schiaparelli & Oliverio, 2022, sister to the clade formed by Velutininae and Lamellariinae
Genera Genera within the family Velutinidae sorted into currently accepted subfamilies:
Subfamily Hainotinae Fassio, Bouchet, Schiaparelli & Oliverio, 2022:
Hainotis F. Riedel, 2000 Mysticoncha J.K. Allan, 1936
Subfamily Lamellariinae A.D. d'Orbigny, 1841 Calyptoconcha A. E. Verrill, 1880 Coriocella Blainville, 1824 Djiboutia Vayssière, 1912 Lamellaria G. Montagu, 1815 Marsenia Oken, 1823 Marseniella Bergh, 1886 Pacifica Fassio, Bouchet & Oliverio, 2022 Variolipallium Fassio, Bouchet & Oliverio, 2022 Subfamily Marseniopsinae Fassio, Bouchet, Schiaparelli & Oliverio, 2022:
Lamellariopsis Vayssière, 1906 Marseniopsis Bergh, 1886
Subfamily Velutininae J. E. Gray, 1840:
Cartilagovelutina A.N. Golikov & Gulbin, 1990 Ciliatovelutina A.N. Golikov & Gulbin, 1990 Cilifera A.N. Golikov & Gulbin, 1990 Limneria H. Adams & A. Adams, 1851 Marsenina J. E. Gray, 1850 Onchidiopsis Bergh, 1853 Piliscus Lovén, 1859 Pseudosacculus S. Hirase, 1928 Pseudotorellia Warén, 1989 Torellivelutina J. H. McLean, 2000 Velutina J. Fleming, 1820
Genera brought into synonymy: Capulacmaea M. Sars, 1859 : synonym of Piliscus Lovén, 1859 Chelinotus Swainson, 1840: synonym of Coriocella Blainville, 1824 Cryptocella H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853: synonym of Lamellaria Montagu, 1815 Marsenia Oken, 1823: synonym of Lamellaria Montagu, 1815 Marvillia [sic]: synonym of Limneria H. Adams & A. Adams, 1851 Morvillia Gray, 1857: synonym of Limneria H. Adams & A. Adams, 1851 Oithonella Mörch, 1857: synonym of Marsenina Gray, 1850 Oncidiopsis [sic]: synonym of Onchidiopsis Bergh, 1853 Pilidium Middendorff, 1851: synonym of Piliscus Lovén, 1859 Pseudoacculus [sic]: synonym of Pseudosacculus Hirase, 1928 Sacculus Hirase, 1927: synonym of Pseudosacculus Hirase, 1928 Velutella Gray, 1847: synonym of Velutina Fleming, 1820 Nomen dubium:
Echinospira Krohn, 1853
References
Sources Philippe Bouchet, 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.
External links
WoRMS official family page Sea Slug Forum info