Mitridae

Different types of miter snails

The miter snails ( Mitridae ) are one of the larger snails families with 375 species. The systematics of this family is very confusing. In total, over 2500 species have been described, but the majority are synonyms.

Features

The cases vary from ovate to hochkonisch. The Siphonalkanal is always relatively short. The spindle has typical folds. The adult size is about 1-7 cm. There is no operculum present. The head is relatively small and without snout. The antennae are short, the eyes are located at the base of the sensor. The rasping tongue ( radula ) is triserial, ie with three elements per transverse row or with only one element per transverse row. The egg capsules are attached to rigid substrate, and contain about 100 to 1000 eggs. A total of 170 egg capsules are stored. This slip veliger larvae, that is, the larvae are eating plankton. Similar to the Muricidae the Hypobranchialdrüsen used here to produce a colorless secretion, which is purple in the light.

Way of life

Mitra snails live in tropical and subtropical seas to about each 40th degree of latitude north and south latitude. Most species are in coastal areas or other coastal areas to be found there in shallow water. Only a few species are also in the deeper water (up to about 1600 m). Most species live on hard surfaces in or near coral reefs and the sandy soils between the coral structures. Only a few species prefer soft floors. They feed predatory, usually by injection worms ( Sipuncula ), but also of other molluscs and crustaceans. The prey is first paralyzed by a secretion of the salivary glands. Also carrion is eaten. On the other hand miter snails very often the victims of another drilling screw, such as Muricidae and Naticidae.

System

Bouchet & Rocroi (2005) divided the family into three subfamilies:

• Cylindromitrinae Cossmann, 1899
• Imbricarinae Troschel, 1867
• Mitrinae Swainson, 1829