Neomphaloidea
Superfamily of gastropods
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Neomphaloidea is a superfamily of deep-sea snails or limpets, marine gastropod mollusks. Neomphaloidea is the only superfamily in the order Neomphalida.
| Neomphaloidea | |
|---|---|
| |
| Chrysomallon squamiferum | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Subclass: | Vetigastropoda |
| Superfamily: | Neomphaloidea McLean, 1981[1] |
| Families | |
| Diversity | |
| 48 extant species | |
The order Neomphalida has the largest in situ radiation in hydrothermal vent habitats. Neomphalida is a major taxonomic grouping of sea snails, vent-endemic marine gastropod mollusks that form a very ancient lineage, going back to the Palaeozoic era.
2005 taxonomy
The superfamily Neomphaloidea was regarded for a long time as belonging within the clade Vetigastropoda. Superfamily Neomphaloidea was also classified in the clade Vetigastropoda according to the taxonomy of the Gastropoda by Bouchet & Rocroi, 2005.[2]
2010 taxonomy
Description
The anatomical characteristics of the Neomphaloidea largely follow the patterns in the Vetigastropoda. However, unusual morphological and phylogentic characters suggest a different systematic position and place it in its own order, the Neomphalida. The formal placement of Neomphalida within the Gastropoda however remains ambiguous.[5]
Families
Families within the Neomphaloidea include:
- Melanodrymiidae Salvini-Plawen & Steiner, 1995[2]
- Neomphalidae McLean, 1981[2]
- Peltospiridae McLean, 1989[2]
A few genera within Neomphaloidea have been unassigned to a family:
- Helicrenion Warén & Bouchet, 1993[6]
- Retiskenea Warén & Bouchet, 2001[7]
- Synonyms
- Cyathermiidae J. H. McLean, 1990: synonym of Neomphalidae J. H. McLean, 1981
See also
The other superfamily of hydrothermal vent limpets is the Lepetodriloidea.