Austrocochlea is a genus of medium-sized sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the family Trochidae, the top snails, also known as top shells.Bouchet, P. (2013). Austrocochlea P. Fischer, 1885. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=512299 on 2014-03-13
This genus was founded as a subgenus by Fisher in 1885 to include a small group of Australian species, included in the genus Monodonta. They had previously been included in Trochocochlea Klein, 1753 ( = Osilinus Philippi, 1847), a section that was then restricted to the Mediterranean group.
Characteristics The tubercle at the base of the columella is non-truncated and only slightly prominent.Fischer, 1855: Manuel de conchyliologie et de paléontologie conchyliologique, (9): 820; Placed on the Official List by Opinion 1930, 1999, Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature, 56(3): 202
Distribution This marine species occurs off the Philippines and mainly off Australia.
Species Species within the genus Austrocochlea include: Austrocochlea brevis Parsons & Ward, 1994 Austrocochlea constellata (Souverbie, 1863) Austrocochlea constricta (Lamarck, 1822), the southern ribbed top snail Austrocochlea diminuta (Hedley, 1912) Austrocochlea porcata (A. Adams, 1853), the zebra top snail Austrocochlea rudis Gray, 1826 Austrocochlea zeus P. Fischer, 1874
Species brought into synonymy Austrocochlea adelaidae (Philippi, 1851): synonym of Chlorodiloma adelaidae (Philippi, 1849) Austrocochlea concamerata (Wood, 1828): synonym of Diloma concamerata (Wood, 1828) Austrocochlea obtusa Iredale, T. & McMichael, D.F. 1962: synonym of Austrocochlea constricta (Lamarck, 1822) Austrocochlea odontis (W. Wood, 1828): synonym of Chlorodiloma odontis (W. Wood, 1828) Austrocochlea piperina (Philippi, 1849): synonym of Diloma piperinum (R. A. Philippi, 1849) (superseded combination) Austrocochlea porcata Iredale, T. & McMichael, D.F. 1962: synonym of Austrocochlea constricta (Lamarck, 1822) Austrocochlea quadrasi (Sowerby III, 1898): synonym of Monodonta (Austrocochlea) quadrasi G. B. Sowerby III, 1898 Austrocochlea torri Cotton & Godfrey, 1934: synonym of Austrocochlea constricta (Lamarck, 1822) Austrocochlea tricingulata (Adams, A., 1853): synonym of Austrocochlea quadrasi Sowerby III, 1898 Austrocochlea zebra Menke, K.T., 1829: synonym of Austrocochlea constricta (Lamarck, 1822) (unaccepted > junior subjective synonym)
References
Risso, 1826 [Risso ex Leach MS]; Histoire naturelle des principales productions de l'Europe méridionale, 4: 134 Finlay, 1926: Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute, 57: 352, 370 Nomenclator Zoologicus info Donald K.M., Kennedy M. & Spencer H.G. (2005) The phylogeny and taxonomy of austral monodontine topshells (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Trochidae), inferred from DNA sequences. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 37: 474-483