The Bursidae, or Frog Shells are worldwide tropical gastropods which live in shallow and deep water. Only 63 species and subspecies are known. The family is divided into four genera and seven subgenera. A couple of species are extremely rare and represented in very few private collections. The thick, heavy shells are often covered with coralline encrustations from the coral habitats they inhabit. A deeply notched canal at the posterior end of the aperture is a common characteristic of the family. Some species have richly colored apertures with lavender, orange, or red coloration. Some species have striking columellar ornamented of white plications over a black coloration. The largest known Bursidae species, Tutufa (T.) bardeyi, is almost 17 inches in length. The smallest species grow to only an inch, or less.
Bursidae
Bursidae

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BURSIDAE CLASSIFICATION

Phylum: MOLLUSCA (Linné, 1758) Cuvier, 1795

Class: GASTROPODA Cuvier, 1797

Subclass: ORTHOGASTROPODA Ponder & Lindberg, 1996

Superorder: CAENOGASTROPODA Cox, 1960

Order: SORBEOCONCHA Ponder & Lindberg, 1997

Suborder: HYPSOGASTROPODA Ponder & Lindberg, 1997

Infraorder: LITTORINIMORPHA Golikov & Starobogatov, 1975

Superfamily: TONNOIDEA Suter, 1913

Family: BURSIDAE Thiele, 1929

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BURSIDAE GENERA & SUBGENERA
Genus: Bufonaria back to menutop of page
BUFONARIA Schumacher, 1817  >
Bufonaria Schumacher, 1817: 251. Type species (s.d. Herrmannsen, 1846: 135): 'Ranella spinosa Lamrk.'= Bufonaria spinosa Schumacher, 1817 (refers to Martini, 1780 vol. 4, pl. 133, figs 1274-76) = Gyrineum echinatum Link, 1807; Recent, Indo-West Pacific; Beu, 1977: 87. Bursina Oyama, 1964: 333. Type species (o.d.): Ranella nobilis Reeve, 1844; Recent, West Pacific. Chasmotheca Dall, 1904. Subgenus: MARSUPINA Dall, 1904 pro Buffo Montfort, 1810 (non Lacepede, 1788). Subgenus: BUFONARIA. Subgenus: ASPA H. & A. Adams, 1853.
Ref.: Millard, V. 1997. Classification of the Mollusca.
Bufonaria crumena cavitensisBufonaria (B.) crumena cavitensis (Beck, in Reeve, 1844) - Samar, Philippines, 60mm - The tubercles are darkly marked in the subspecies, which is limited to the Philippines. Ref.: Cossignani, T. 1994. Bursidae of the World. p.19. Bufonaria fernandeziBufonaria (B.) fernandezi Beu, 1977 - Somalia, 101mm - taken from trawlers in deep water. Rarely found in live condition. This specimen was crabbed, yet still retains its color. Ref.: Cossignani, T. 1994. Bursidae of the World. p.23.
Bufonaria foliataBufonaria (B.) foliata (Broderip, 1826) - Somalia, 93mm - one of the more spectacular Bursa species. The species is not uncommon subtidally in the western Indian Ocean. Ref.: Cossignani, T. 1994. Bursidae of the World. p.24-25.    
Genus: Bursa back to menutop of page
BURSA (Bursa)  >
Bursa Röding, 1798; Vaught, 1989: 37; Le Renard, 1996: 51; Rana Humphrey, 1797 (non-binom.) (non Linnaeus, 1758); Lampadopsis Jousseaume, 1881; Pseudobursa Rovereto, 1899. Subgenus: BURSA.
Ref.: Millard, V. 1997. Classification of the Mollusca.
Bursa angioyorumBursa (Bursa) angioyorum Parth, 1990 - Philippines, 43mm - do not confuse with B. muehlhaeusseri. Specimens are generally larger and differences in the surface sculpture and aperture characteristics. Uncommon. Ref.: Cossignani, T. 1994. Bursidae of the World. p.42. Bursa davidboschiBursa (Bursa) davidboschi Beu, 1987 - Somalia, 24-26mm - limited to the Indian Ocean between the Gulf of Aden and Somalia. The relatively smooth, shiny surface is characteristic of the species. Ref.: Cossignani, T. 1994. Bursidae of the World. p.47.
Bursa muehlhaeusseriBursa (Bursa) muehlhaeusseri Parth, 1990 - Philippines, 35-42mm - Not to be confused with B. lamarckii, which has general size and sculptural differences. Common in the Philippines. Ref.: Cossignani, T. 1994. Bursidae of the World. p.54-55. Bursa tuberosissimaBursa (Bursa) tuberosissima (Reeve, 1844) - Philippines, 30-38mm - typically with various shades of golden yellow within the aperture. Commonly found in the Western Pacific; specifically the Philippines, Solomon Islands, Indonesia, and Taiwan. Ref.: Cossignani, T. 1994. Bursidae of the World. p.61.  
BURSA (COLUBRELLINA)  >
Subgenus: Colubrellina Fischer, 1884; Bufonariella Thiele, 1929; Le Renard, 1996: 51 (as synonym of Bursa); Dulcerana Iredale, 1931 (unavailable); Annaperenna Iredale, 1936; Le Renard, 1996: 52 (as synonym of Bursa); Dulcerana Iredale in Oyama, 1964; Le Renard, 1996: 52 (as synonym of Bursa); Tritonoranella Oyama, 1964; Le Renard, 1996: 52 (as synonym of Bursa).
Ref.: Millard, V. 1997. Classification of the Mollusca.
Bursa conditaBursa (Colubrellina) condita Gmelin, 1791 - Kwajalein Atoll, 94mm - One of the more difficult to find members of the Bursidae. It is uncommonly found in the South West Pacific and Philippines, and less frequently in New Caledonia and Australia. Grows to at least 113mm, or more. Ref.: Cossignani, T. 1994. Bursidae of the World. p.68. Bursa latitudo fosteriBursa (Colubrellina) latitudo fosteri Beu, 1987 - Philippines, 42-45mm - a smaller subspecies. New Caledonia is the type locality. Ref.: Cossignani, T. 1994. Bursidae of the World. p.81.
Bursa latitudo natalensisBursa (Colubrellina) latitudo natalensis Coelho & Matthews, 1970 - Puerto Rico, 68-81mm - taken from deep water traps set in ±100 fathoms of water off the southwest end of the island by local fishermen. This is the Atlantic representative of this species. Ref.: Cossignani, T. 1994. Bursidae of the World. p.82. Bursa latitudo wolfeiBursa (Colubrellina) latitudo wolfei Beu, 1981 - Philippines, 62mm - always larger than B. l. fosteri, and often with a pale pink tinted aperture. The subspecies always has prominent knobs on the body whorl. Also uncommonly found in deep water trappings in Hawaii. Ref.: Cossignani, T. 1994. Bursidae of the World. p.83. Bursa quirihoraiBursa (Colubrellina) quirihorai Beu, 1987 - Philippines, 57mm - quite large for the species. The finger-like projections of the outer lip are characteristic of this relatively common species. Ref.: Cossignani, T. 1994. Bursidae of the World. p.85.
Bursa ranelloides tenuisculptaBursa (Colubrellina) ranelloides (Reeve, 1844) form: tenuisculpta (Dautzenberg & Fischer, 1906) - La Palma, Canary Islands, 63mm - A less sculptured form similar to specimens from the Western Atlantic. This shell was taken from a lobster pot set in 150 meters of water. Ref.: Cossignani, T. 1994. Bursidae of the World. p.86-87. Bursa ranelloides tenuisculptaBursa (Colubrellina) ranelloides (Reeve, 1844) form: tenuisculpta (Dautzenberg & Fischer, 1906) - La Palma, Canary Islands, 63mm - A coarsely sculptured form. Both the smooth an coarse forms were considered a subspecies, but have been classified now only as a form of Bursa ranelloides. This shell was taken from the same lobster pots as the less sculptured form. Ref.: Cossignani, T. 1994. Bursidae of the World. p.86-87. Bursa scrobilatorBursa (Colubrellina) scrobilator (Linné, 1758) form: coriacea (Reeve, 1844) - Ghana, 49.7mm - The form coriacea seems to be a morph that is limited to the central West African coast. This specimen was taken scuba diving in ± 20 meters of water. It lives in and among rocks. Ref.: Cossignani, T. 1994. Bursidae of the World. p.88.
Genus: Crossata back to menutop of page
CROSSATA Jousseaume, 1881  >
Crossata Jousseaume, 1881.
Ref.: Millard, V. 1997. Classification of the Mollusca.
   
Genus: Tutufa back to menutop of page
TUTUFA Jousseaume, 1881  >
Tutufa Jousseaume, 1881. Subgenus: TUTUFA s.s. Subgenus: TUTUFELLA Beu, 1981, Pro Lampas Schumacher, 1817 (non Montfort, 1808).
Ref.: Millard, V. 1997. Classification of the Mollusca.
   
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