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

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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 (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 lyratumVexillum (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.:
Vexillum (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) exasperatumVexillum (Costellaria) exasperatum (Gmelin, 1791) - Tulear, Madagascar, 20mm - A black, less shouldered form, one of an amazingly variable species. Found intertidally. Ref.: Vexillum radiusVexillum (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) roseumVexillum (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) roseumVexillum (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)_semifasciatumVexillum (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) virgoVexillum (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.  
Vexillum (Nodicostellaria Petuch, 1987)  
Nodicostellaria Petuch, 1987. Type species: Nodicostellaria crassa (Simone, 1995).   Ref.: Millard, V. 1997. Classification of the Mollusca : A classification of worldwide Mollusca. pp.119-120.		    
Vexillum (Pusia Swainson, 1840)  
Pusia Swainson, 1840. Type species .   Ref.: Millard, V. 1997. Classification of the Mollusca :A classification of worldwide Mollusca. pp.119-120.		    
Vexillum (Pusiolina Cossmann, 1921)  
Pusiolina Cossmann, 1921. Type species: Pusiolina tricolor Gmelin, 1791.   Ref.: Millard, V. 1997. Classification of the Mollusca :A classification of worldwide Mollusca. pp.119-120.		    
Vexillum (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.		    
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