The Costellariidae are one of two molluscan families referred to as Mitre Shells. The Costellariidae are generally characterized by shells with coarse sculpture and strong ribs. The large number of species in this family are mostly small, measuring under 25mm, yet a goodly number grow to over 50mm. The Family is divided into two genera, Costellaria and Vexillum, and Pusia a subgenus of the Vexillum.
Costellariidae
Costellariidae

QUICK LIST OF COSTELLARIIDAE ON THIS PAGE
Show List   Hide List
Move Quick List box with mouse-pointer


COSTELLARIIDAE PICTURE & TAXONOMIC LINKS


SEARCH BOX

SEARCH worldwideconchology.com
Search worldwideconchology.com - Enter search word. Avoid using the word "shell" -
e.g., use Cassis instead of Cassis shell.

*  *  *

GOOGLE COSTELLARIIDAE ON THE INTERNET


SELECTED COSTELLARIIDAE LITERATURE

The illustrated shells are from various private, or museum collections.
Click on the thumbnail images for an enlarged view. Images will open up in a separate, resizeable window.
* Turn off your browser's pop-up blocker to see enlarged pictures and links. *
 top of page
    
COSTELLARIIDAE CLASSIFICATION

Phylum: MOLLUSCA (Linné, 1758) Cuvier, 1795

Class: GASTROPODA Cuvier, 1797

Subclass: ORTHOGASTROPODA Ponder & Lindberg, 1996

Order: CAENOGASTROPODA Cox, 1959

Suborder: NEOGASTROPODA Thiele, 1929

      Superfamily: MURICOIDEA da Costa, 1776

Family:COSTELLARIIDAE MacDonald, 1860


Highlight and click the classification term for a definition and additional information.

COSTELLARIIDAE GENERA & SUBGENERA
Genus: Vexillum
Genus: Austromitra
Genus: Mitromica
Genus: Thala
Genus: Thaluta
Genus: Zierliana

Taxonomic Ref.: Millard, V. 1997. Classification of the Mollusca :A classification of worldwide Mollusca. 1-544.
Genus: Vexillum back to menutop of page
Vexillum s.s. Röding, 1798  
Vexillum Röding, 1798. Type species .   Ref.: Millard, V. 1997. Classification of the Mollusca :A classification of worldwide Mollusca. pp.119-120.		 Vexillum (V.) costatum Cernohorsky & Azuma, 1974 - Philippines, 36mm - found throughout the Western Pacific taken in fishing nets from moderately deep water. The species is also collected by scuba divers. Ref.: Vexillum (V.) dennisoni (Reeve, 1844) - Philippines. Ref.:
Vexillum lyratum Vexillum (V.) lyratum (Lamarck, 1811) - Balut, Philippines, 52mm - Rather large specimen; coloring varies, but the greenish-gray coloring with black bands is most common. Ref.: Vexillum (V.) regina (Sowerby, 1828) [form: filiareginae Cate, 1961] - Philippines, 67-74mm. Ref.: Vexillum (V.) regina (Sowerby, 1828) [form: filiareginae Cate, 1961] - Philippines, 67-74mm - The variability of the species becomes evident in a larger series. Ref.:
Costellaria Swainson, 1840  
Costellaria Swainson, 1840. Type species .   Ref.: Millard, V. 1997. Classification of the Mollusca :A classification of worldwide Mollusca. pp.119-120.		 Vexillum (Costellaria) exasperatum Vexillum (Costellaria) exasperatum (Gmelin, 1791) - Tulear, Madagascar, 20mm - A black, less shouldered form, one of an amazingly variable species. Found intertidally. Ref.: Vexillum radius Vexillum (Costellaria) radius (Reeve, 1845) - Micronesia, 18mm - A rare find, taken scuba diving on rubble reef. The deep incised cords cut by about a dozen axial ribs is characteristic for the species. Ref.:
Vexillum (Costellaria) roseum Vexillum (Costellaria) roseum (Broderip, 1836) - Mbanika Island, Solomon Islands, 14.7mm - Found in a Bay down the coast from the next large white shell. Ref.: Robin & Martin, 2004, Mitridae Costellariidae, p.24, pl. C-14. Vexillum (Costellaria) roseum Vexillum (Costellaria) roseum (Broderip, 1836) - Mbanika Island, Solomon Islands, 23.4mm - A pure white shell of exceptional size for the species. Found in 30 feet of water on coral. Ref.: Robin & Martin, 2004, Mitridae Costellariidae, p.24, pl. C-14. Vexillum (Costellaria)_semifasciatum Vexillum (Costellaria) semifasciatum (Lamarck, 1811) - Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, 22mm - Found throughout the Indo-Pacific. This shell was collected in ± 4 meters of water buried in sand. Ref.: Robin & Martin, 2004, Mitridae Costellariidae, p.25, pl. C-15; Pechar, Prior, Parkinson, 1980, Mitre shells from the Pacific and Indian Oceans, pl.44, 4 & 6.
<b>Vexillum (Costellaria) takakuwai</b> Vexillum (Costellaria) takakuwai Cernohorsky & Azuma, 1974 - Philippines, 28mm - uncommonly found in tangle nets set in moderately deep water. Ref.: Robin & Martin, 2004, Mitridae Costellariidae, p.25, pl. C-17. Vexillum (Costellaria) virgo Vexillum (Costellaria) virgo (Linné, 1767) - Solomon Islands, 23.5mm - Dark color form. Found widespread throughout the Indo-Pacific and the Red Sea. Ref.: Robin & Martin, 2004, Mitridae Costellariidae, p.26, pl. C-18; Pechar, Prior, Parkinson, 1980, Mitre shells from the Pacific and Indian Oceans, pl.44, 4 & 6.  
Nodicostellaria TTTTTT, 0000  
Nodicostellaria . Type species .   Ref.: Millard, V. 1997. Classification of the Mollusca :A classification of worldwide Mollusca. pp.119-120.		    
Pusia Swainson, 1840  
Pusia Swainson, 1840. Type species .   Ref.: Millard, V. 1997. Classification of the Mollusca :A classification of worldwide Mollusca. pp.119-120.		    
Pusiolina TTTTT, 0000  
Pusiolina. Type species .   Ref.: Millard, V. 1997. Classification of the Mollusca :A classification of worldwide Mollusca. pp.119-120.		    
Tosapusia Azuma, 1965  
Tosapusia Azuma, 1965. Type species .   Ref.: Millard, V. 1997. Classification of the Mollusca :A classification of worldwide Mollusca. pp.119-120.		    
Genus: Austromitra back to menutop of page
Austromitra Finaly, 1927  
Austromitra Finaly, 1927. Type species .   Ref.: Millard, V. 1997. Classification of the Mollusca :A classification of worldwide Mollusca. pp.119-120.		    
Genus: Mitromica back to menutop of page
Mitromica Berry, 1958  
Mitromica Berry, 1958. Type species .   Ref.: Millard, V. 1997. Classification of the Mollusca :A classification of worldwide Mollusca. pp.119-120.		    
Genus: Thala back to menutop of page
Thala H. & A. Adams, 1853   
Thala H. & A. Adams, 1853 . Type species .   Ref.: Millard, V. 1997. Classification of the Mollusca :A classification of worldwide Mollusca. pp.119-120.		    
Genus: Thala back to menutop of page
Thaluta Rosenberg & Callomon, 2003  
Thaluta Rosenberg & Callomon, 2003. Type species .   Ref.: Millard, V. 1997. Classification of the Mollusca :A classification of worldwide Mollusca. pp.119-120.		    
Genus: Zierliana back to menutop of page
Zierliana Gray, 1847  
Zierliana Gray, 1847. Type species .   Ref.: Millard, V. 1997. Classification of the Mollusca :A classification of worldwide Mollusca. pp.119-120.		    
back to menutop of page