Conoidea

Marble cone ( Conus marmoreus )

The Conoidea are a diverse superfamily almost exclusively of marine snails are predatory. The representatives of this superfamily possess a venom gland, whose venom is injected by means of a hollow Fang in the victim. Due to this feature, they will (formerly Toxoglossa ) called on German also Pfeilzüngler or Giftzüngler.

Features

The cases are very different in shape and vary from fusiform and tower -shaped to inverted - cone-shaped. Accordingly, the thread is very flat very high up. The last turn can be short and ovate or very long and slit-shaped. The spindle has no wrinkles, very rarely some wrinkles or nodes. In the radula of the middle tooth is (compared to other representatives of the Neuschnecken ) reduced; there are only one or two lateral teeth present. These are long and pointed, often studded with barbs. They have a trough or channel, which is in communication with a poison gland.

Way of life

The representatives of the superfamily are predators of fish, bristle worms, other molluscs such as snails and clams or crabs that are with poison that is injected using the fangs captured. They are found worldwide, especially in the warmer seas. Their occurrence ranges from shallow waters to the deep sea.

System

The Conoidea are designated according to the Radulaform as Toxoglossa ( Pfeilzüngler or Giftzüngler ). However, the name is not available on the superfamily level in the International Regulations for Zoological Nomenclature, since it is not based on a genus. Bouchet and Rocroi divide the Conoidea in eight families:

• Conoidea Fleming, 1822 Cone snails ( Conidae Fleming, 1822)
• Clavatulidae Gray, 1853
• Drilliidae Olsson, 1964
• Pseudomelatomidae Morrison, 1965
• Screws screw ( Terebridae Mörch, 1864)
• (Also known as tower screw ) Turridae Adams & Adams, 1853
• † Speightiidae Powell, 1942
• Strictispiridae McLean, 1971