The MARGINELLIDAE can truly be called gems of the sea. This large family consists of species with predoninantly small, shiny jewel-like shells. The common name Margin Shell comes from the fact that many of the species have a thickened outer lip that gives the shells a rather prominent margin. The smallest species of Marginellids are as small as 1 to 2 millimeters (mm); the largest grow to over 100mm. The majority of the ± 500 living and fossil species, though, are under 25mm. The Marginellids exhibit highly variable patterns; axial lines, spots, bands chevron markings and streaks, sometimes with vivid coloration. Another distinguishing feature of the Marginellids is the presence of several prominent columellar plicae. None of the Marginellids have an operculum. An array of Marginellid species are a bright spot in a molluscan collection.

ECOLOGY: The Marginellidae are a tropical marine group. The species inhabit intertidal zones down to abyssal depths. Many are sand dwellers that can be found tracking in the sandy substrate at night. A few are found on hard reef surfaces. Numerous new species have been discovered in recent years by collectors through more rigorous scuba diving at greater depths and in less accessible habitats. New and rarely seen species also surface through dredging and in trawl nets. One species in the monotypic genus Rivomarginella from Thailand is the only know freshwater Marginellid.

TAXONOMY: Until 1995 the Marginellidae were arranged taxonomically by similar shell characteristics. After years of extensive research of the Marginellid animals by Gary and Holly Coovert, the family underwent a major overhaul, revising the entire group into two families, the MARGINELLIDAE and CYSTISCIDAE based on anatomical differences. The Cystiscidae will be treated on worldwideconchology.com on a separate Family page. The classification of the Marginellidae as it is understood now is listed below.
Marginellidae
Marginellidae

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MARGINELLIDAE 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: NEOGASTROPODA Thiele, 1929

      Superfamily: VOLUTOIDEA Rafinesque, 1815

Family: MARGINELLIDAE Fleming, 1828




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TAXONOMIC REF.: OBIS Indo-Pacific Molluscan Database - Internet.

MARGINELLIDAE SUBFAMILIES & GENERA
SUBFAMILY: MARGINELLONINAE
SUBFAMILY: MARGINELLINAE
Tribe: AUSTROGINELLINI - Serrata Group
Tribe: AUSTROGINELLINI - Austroginella Group
Tribe: PRUNINI
Tribe: MARGINELLINI
TAXONOMIC REF.: Coovert, G.A. & Coovert, H.K. 1995. Revision of the Supraspecific Classification of Marginelliform Gastropods. The Nautilus 109(2 & 3):43-110. Millard, V. 1997. Classification of the Mollusca :A classification of worldwide Mollusca. 1-544.
Subfamily: MARGINELLONINAE back to menutop of page
AFRIVOLUTA Tomlin, 1947  
Afrivoluta Tomlin, 1947: 244. Type species (o.d.): Afrivoluta pringlei Tomlin, 1947; Recent, South Africa. 70-500m.   Ref.: Coovert & Coovert, 1995: 77.		 Afrivoluta pringleiAfrivoluta pringlei Tomlin, 1947 - endemic to South Africa, 86mm; grows to be the largest known species of Marginellid; trawled from deep water. The species was orignally described as a Volute. Ref.:  
MARGINELLONA von Martens, 1904  
Marginella (Marginellona) von Martens, 1904: 108. Type species (monotypy): Marginella (Marginellona) gigas von Martens, 1904; Indo Pacific, Eastern Indian Ocean and South China Sea. Recent. 380 to 1280m; Sigaluta Rehder, 1967: 182-183. Type species (o.d.): Sigaluta praetasensis Rehder, 1967, [= Marginellona gigas von Martens, 1904].    Ref.: Coovert & Coovert, 1995: 79.		    
Subfamily: MARGINELLINAE back to menutop of page
MYOBARUM Sohl, 1963  
Myobarum Sohl, 1963: 750=751. Type species (o.d.(monotypy)): Myobarum laevigatum Sohl, 1963; Late Cretaceous (Upper Maestrichtian) of Mississippi and Georgia.   Ref.: Coovert & Coovert, 1995: 80.		    
Tribe: Austroginellini - Serrata Group back to menutop of page
CONUGINELLA Laseron, 1957  
Conuginella Laseron, 1957: 288. Type species (o.d.): Marginella inermis Tate, 1878; Miocene Australia.   Ref.: Coovert & Coovert, 1995: 81.		    
SERRATA Jousseaume, 1875  
Serrata Jousseaume, 1875: 167, 230. Type species (tautology): Serrata serrata (Gaskoin, 1849), [= Marginella serrata Gaskoin, 1849]; Neozelanic, southern Australia, Indo-Pacific. Middle Oligocene of New Zealand, Miocene of Australia, to recent. Intertidal to 370m; Haloginella Laseron, 1957: 284. Type species (o.d.): Marginella mustelina (Angas, 1871), [= Hyalina (Volvarina) mustelina Angas, 1871]; Exiginella Laseron, 1957: 289. Type species (o.d.): Marginella winteri Tate, 1878.   Ref.: Coovert & Coovert, 1995: 81.		    
SERRATAGINELLA Coovert & Coovert, 1995  
Serrataginella Coovert & Coovert, 1995: 82. Type species (o.d.(monotypy)): "Marginella" spryi Clover, 1974; Indo-Pacific and eastern Africa. Intertidal to 30m.    Ref.: Coovert & Coovert, 1995: 82.		 Serrataginella spryiSerrataginella spryi (Clover, 1974) - Mozambique, 8-9mm; Dredged in ± 20 meters of water off Pemba. Western Indian Ocean distribution. Ref.: Cossignani, T. 2006. Marginellidae & Cystiscidae of the World. p.230.  
STROMBOGINELLA Laseron, 1957  
Stromboginella Laseron, 1957: 289. Type species (o.d.(monotypy)): Marginella crassidens Chapman and Crespin, 1928; Pleistocene of Australia.   Ref.: ; Coovert & Coovert, 1995: 82.		    
HYDROGINELLA Laseron, 1957  
Hydroginella Laseron, 1957: 284. Type species (o.d.(monotypy)): Hydroginella dispersa Laseron, 1957; south Australia, Indo-Pacific. Recent. Intertidal to 550m; Neptoginella Laseron, 1957: 283. Type species (o.d.): Neptoginella fascicula Laseron, 1957; Pillarginella Gabriel, 1962: 197. Type species (o.d.(monotyoy)): Marginella columnaria Hedley & May, 1908.    Ref.: Coovert & Coovert, 1995: 83.		    
Tribe: Austroginellini - Austroginella Group back to menutop of page
MIOGINELLA Laseron, 1957  
Mioginella Laseron, 1957: 287. Type species (o.d.(monotypy)): Marginella regula Cotton, 1949'; Eocene from Australia.   Ref.: Coovert & Coovert, 1995: 83.		    
PROTOGINELLA Laseron, 1957  
Protoginella Laseron, 1957: 285. Type species (o.d.): Marginella lavigata Brazier, 1877, [= Marginella (Prunum) lavigata Brazier, 1877; Indo- Pacific. Eocene and Pliocene of Australia to Recent. 13-97m.   Ref.: Coovert & Coovert, 1995: 84.		    
NUDIFABA Eames, 1952  
Marginella (Nudifaba) Eames, 1952: 122. Type species (o.d.(monotypy)): Marginella (Nudifaba) rakhiensis Eames, 1952; Eocene of Pakistan.   Ref.: Coovert & Coovert, 1995: 84; Pacaud & Le Renard, 1995: 167.		    
ALAGINELLA Laseron, 1957  
Alaginella Laseron, 1957: 286. Type species (o.d.): Marginella ochracea Angas, 1871; South Australia, Indo-Pacific, South Africa. Miocene and Pliocene of Australia to recent. Intertidal to 1650m; Carinaginella Laseron, 1957: 287. Type species (o.d.(monotypy)): Marginella carinata Smith, 1891; Cassoginella Laseron, 1957: Type species (o.d.(monotypy)): Marginella palla Cotton, 1949; Triginella Laseron, 1957: 280-281. Type species (o.d.(monotypy)): Marginella malina Hedley, 1915.   Ref.: Coovert & Coovert, 1995: 84.		 Alaginella atractaAlaginella atracta (Tomlin, 1918) - Algoa Bay, South Africa, 6-7mm. Endemic to S.Africa. Taken from cray traps set in 100-150 meters of water. The elevated spire is a consistent characteristic. The species name is sometimes misspelled "attracta". Ref.: Cossignani, T. 2006. Marginellidae & Cystiscidae of the World. p.230.  
HIWIA Marwick, 1931  
Marginella (Hiwia) Marwick, 1931: 129. Type species (o.d.(monotypy)): Marginella (Hiwia) amplificata Marwick, 1931; Eocene of Australia to Oligocene of New Zealand.   Ref.: Coovert & Coovert, 1995: 85.		    
AUSTROGINELLA Laseron, 1957  
Austroginella Laseron, 1957: 285. Type species (o.d.): Marginella muscaria Lamarck, 1822; South Australian. Miocene to Pleistocene of Australia to recent. Intertidal to 27m; Plicagenella Laseron, 1957: 285. Type species (o.d.): Marginella formicula Lamarck, 1822.    Ref.: Coovert & Coovert, 1995: 85.		 Austroginella musicariaAustroginella musicaria (Lamarck, 1822) - New South Wales, Australia, 13-15mm. Type species of genus. dredged on sand in ± 5 fathoms of water. Ref.: Cossignani, T. 2006. Marginellidae & Cystiscidae of the World. p.356.  
MESOGINELLA Laseron, 1957  
Mesoginella Laseron, 1957: 282. Type species (o.d.(monotypy)): Marginella turbinata Sowerby, 1846;Neozelanic, South Australia, Indo-Pacific. Miocene, Pliocene and Pleistocene of Australia to recent. Intertidal to 640m; Deviginella Laseron, 1957: 283-284. Type species (o.d.): Marginella brachia Watson, 1886, [= Marginella (Glabella) brachia Watson, 1886] Hianoginella Laseron, 1957: 288. Type species (o.d.(monotypy)): Marginella physa Cotton, 1949; Sinuginella Laseron, 1957: 282. Type species (o.d.): Marginella inconspicua Sowerby, 1846; Spiroginella Laseron, 1957: 283. Type species (o.d.(monotypy)): Marginella leia Cotton, 1944 [= Marginella turbinata Sowerby, 1846] Urnigenella Laseron, 1957: 287. Type species (o.d.(monotypy)): Marginella cassidiformis Tate, 1878.   Ref.: Coovert & Coovert, 1995: 87.		    
CLOSIA Gray, 1857  
Closia Gray, 1857: 36. Type species (monotypy): Closia sarda (Kiener, 1834), [= Marginella sarda Kiener, 1834]. Indo-Pacific restricted to western Indian Ocean. Recent only. 20-140m.    Ref.: Coovert & Coovert, 1995: 87.		 Closia sardaClosia sarda (Kiener, 1834) - Diego Suarez, Madagascar, 17mm. Type species of genus Closia. Found only in the Indian Ocean. Ref.:  
OVAGINELLA Laseron, 1957  
Ovaginella Laseron, 1957: 280. Type species (o.d.): Marginella ovulum Sowerby, 1846. Neozelanic, southern Australia. Recent only. 3-370m.   Ref.: Coovert & Coovert, 1995: 88.		    
BALANETTA Jousseaume, 1875  
Balanetta Jousseaume, 1875: 168, 269. Type species (monotypy): Balanetta baylei Jousseaume, 1875; Southern Australia, Indo-Pacific. Recent only. Intertidal to 183m.   Ref.: Coovert & Coovert, 1995: 89.		    
Tribe: Prunini back to menutop of page
VOLVARINA Hinds, 1844  
Marginella section Volvarina Hinds, 1844: 75. Type species (s.d. Redfield, 1870: 221): Marginella nitida Hinds, 1844, [= Marginella (Volvarina) nitida Hinds, 1844, = Voluta mitrella Risso, 1826]; Neozelanic, Southern Australia, Indo-Pacific, Eastern Pacific, western Atlantic , Arctic, Magellanic/Antarctic, Mediterranean, west Africa, South Africa. Eocene of France, Oligocene to Pleistocene of West Atlantic, early Miocene of western Pacific, Miocene and Pliocene of Italy, Pleistocene of California to Recent; Coovert, & Coovert, 1995: 90 [Prunini]; Pacaud & Le Renard, 1995: 167 [Marginellidae]; Volvoria Jousseaume, 1875 (err.) Volvarina Hinds, 1844; Vaught, 1989: 54; Le Renard, 1996: 78.   Ref.: Coovert & Coovert, 1995: 90.		    
PRUNUM Herrmannsen, 1852  
Prunum Herrmannsen, 1852: 113. Type species (monotypy): Voluta prunum Gmelin, 1791; Indo-Pacfic, eastern Pacific, western Atlantic, West Africa. Eocene of Mississippi, Oligocene to Pleistocene of western Atlantic, to recent. Intertidal to 1840m; Coovert & Coovert, 1995: 91 [Prunini]; Volutella (Microspira) Conrad, 1868. Type species (monotypy.): Prunum (sic) oviformis Conrad, 1868, [= Volutella (Microspira) oviformis Conrad, 1868]; Egouena Jousseaume, 1875: 167, 192. Type species (tautology): Egouena egouen Jousseaume, 1875, [= Marginella amygdala Kiener, 1841]; Porcellanella Tryon, 1882 (non White in MacGillivray, 1852): 16. Type species (o.d. (monotypy.)): Porcellanella bella Conrad, 1868 [= Prunum bella Conrad, 1868 [publ. as nomen nudum in Conrad, 1863: 564, Type species (o.d.): Porcellanella bella Conrad, 1863, nomen nudem; (monotypy)] Marginella subg. Volvarina section Leptegouana Woodring, 1928: 237- 238. Type species (o.d.): Voluta guttata Dillwyn, 1817.   Ref.: Coovert & Coovert, 1995: 91.		 Prunum curtumPrunum curtum (Sowerby, 1832) - Tumbes, Peru, 23-24mm. Collected by fishermen in 5-10 meters of water. Do not confuse with Prunum macleani, which is a rarer species with a more limited distribution. Ref.: Cossignani, T. 2006. Marginellidae & Cystiscidae of the World. p. Prunum marginataPrunum marginata (Born, 1778) - Guajira Peninsula, Colombia, 24mm. Inhabits a wide swath of moderately deep water on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean from West Africa to the southern Caribbean. The species varies considerably. Specimens from Colombia often exhibit a central band. Ref.: Cossignani, T. 2006. Marginellidae & Cystiscidae of the World. p.
Prunum pellucidumPrunum pellucidum (Pfeiffer, 1840) - Eleuthera Island, Bahamas, 9-10mm. Found in a blue-hole fed salt water lake in shallow water. The central columellar pillar is visible through the semi-translucent shell. Do not confuse with Prunum apicinum, which has a thicker, white shell. Ref.: Cossignani, T. 2006. Marginellidae & Cystiscidae of the World. p. Prunum pergrandisPrunum pergrandis (Clover, 1974) - Masirah Island, Oman, 19-20mm. The species name is also spelled "pergrande". The two faint bands overlaid with white flecks is a consistent characteristic. A sand-dwelling species found intertidal around the Arabian Peninsula from the Gulf of Aden to the Horn of Africa. Ref.: Cossignani, T. 2006. Marginellidae & Cystiscidae of the World. p.285. Bosch, et.al., 1995. Seashells of Eastern Arabia. p.148 (as Volvarina pergrandis). Bozzetti, L., 1993. Le Marginelle di Ras Hafun. 1. 5:48-51. Lipe. R. 1991. Marginellas. p.17, pl.8, fig.1-2. Clover, Philip 1974. A new species of Cypraea from West Africa and three new species of Marginellidae from the Indian Ocean. The Journal of Conchology 28(4):213-216, pl.8 [original description].  
BULLATA Jousseaume, 1875  
Bullata Jousseaume, 1875: 167, 250. Type species (tautology): Bullata bullata (Born, 1778), [= Voluta bullata Born, 1778; western Atlantic. Miocene and Pliocene of western Atlantic to recent. 1-60m; Coovert & Coovert, 1995: 92 [Prunini]; Marginella subg. Volutella Swainson, 1830: (2), Marginella pl. 1 (non Perry, 1810). Type species (o.d.): Marginella bullata Lamarck, 1822, [= Voluta bullata Born, 1778]; Gibberulina Monterosato, 1884: 139 [invalid emendation, as "nom. sost. "].   Ref.: Coovert & Coovert, 1995: 92.		    
RIVOMARGINELLA Brandt, 1968  
Rivomarginella Brandt, 1968: 275. Type species (o.d.(monotypy)): Rivomarginella morrisoni Brandt, 1968;Indo-Pacific, found in freshwater in south east Asia. Recent only; Coovert & Coovert, 1995: 93 [Prunini].   Ref.: Coovert & Coovert, 1995: 93.		    
CRYPTOSPIRA Hinds, 1844  
Marginella , section Cryptospira Hinds, 1844: 76. Type species (s.d. Gray, 1847: 142): Marginella tricincta Hinds, 1844, [= Marginella (Cryptospira) tricincta Hinds, 1844; Indo-Pacific. Pliocene of Java to recent. From 0.6 to 123m; Coovert & Coovert, 1995: 93 [Prunini]; Crystospira Cotton, 1949 (err.).   Ref.: Coovert & Coovert, 1995: 93.		 Cryptospira dactylusCryptospira dactylus (Lamarck, 1822) - Java, Indonesia, 31-36mm. An uncommon Southeast Asian species. The illustrated shell was taken in ± 40 meters of water at Rembang by fishermen. Ref.: Cossignani, T. 2006. Marginellidae & Cystiscidae of the World. p.288. Dharma, B. 2005. Recent & Fossil Indonesian Shells. p.150, pl.50, fig. 12a & b. Cryptospira fischeriCryptospira fischeri (Bavay, 1902) - Basilan Island, Philippines, 11-12mm. Trawled from ± 70 meters of water. Ref.: Cossignani, in Poppe, G. 2008. Philippine Marine Mollusks - Vol. II. p.432, pl.511, figs. 3a & b. Cossignani, T. 2006. Marginellidae & Cystiscidae of the World. p.328. Lipe, R. 1992. Marginellas. p.13, pl.6, fig.4. Springsteen, F.J. & Leobrera, F.M. 1986. Shells of the Philippines. p.336, pl. 96, fig. 4e.
Cryptospira strigataCryptospira strigata (Dillwyn, 1817) form: unicolor Bert, 1985 - Phuket, Thailand, 42-46mm. Found sub-tidally. Both banded and unbanded forms are found in the same populations. Ref.: Cossignani, T. 2006. Marginellidae & Cystiscidae of the World. p.291. Lipe. R. 1991. Marginellas. p.13, pl.6, fig.8.    
HYALINA Schumacher, 1817  
Hyalina Schumacher, 1817: 234. Type species (monotypy): Hyalina pellucida Schumacher, 1817, [= Bulla pallida Linne, 1758]; Indo-Pacific, western Atlantic, Magellanic / Antarctic, South Africa,. Pliocene of Florida to recent. Intertidal to 1340m; Coovert & Coovert, 1995: 94 [Prunini]; Marginella, subg. Volvarina section Neovolvaria Fischer, 1883: 602. Type species (monotypy): Marginella pallida (Linne, 1767), [= Bulla pallida Linne, 1758].   Ref.: Coovert & Coovert, 1995: 94.		    
Tribe: Marginellini back to menutop of page
STAZZANIA Sacco, 1890  
Marginella, subg. Stazzania Sacco, 1890: 138 (245); 1890: 26 (318). Type species (monotypy): Marginella (Stazzania) emarginata Sismonda, 1847; Eocene of France, to upper Miocene of Italy Stazzania Sacco, 1890; Coovert & Coovert, 1995: 94 [Marginellini]; Pacaud & Le Renard, 1995: 167 [Marginellidae]; Le Renard, 1996: 77 (as synonym of Marginella).   Ref.: Coovert & Coovert, 1995: 94.		    
DENTIMARGO Cossmann, 1899  
Marginella subg. Marginella , section Dentimargo Cossmann, 1899: 90. Type species (o.d.): Marginella dentifera Lamarck, 1803; Neozelanic, southern Australia, Indo-Pacific, eastern Pacific, western Atlantic, west Africa, South Africa. Eocene of France, Eocene to Pleistocene of western Atlantic, Oligocene to Pliocene of Australia, Miocene to Pliocene of western Pacific, to recent. Intertidal to 1300m; Dentimargo Cossmann, 1899; Coovert & Coovert, 1995: 95 [Marginellini]; Pacaud & Le Renard, 1995: 167 [Marginellidae]; Volvarinella Habe, 1951: 101-102. Type species (o.d.): Volvarinella makiyamai Habe, 1951; Pacaud & Le Renard, 1995: 167 [Marginellidae]; Marginella subg. Eburnospira Olsson & Harbison, 1953: 201-202. Type species (o.d.): Marginella eburneola Conrad, 1834; Volvarinella (Eburnospira); Pacaud & Le Renard, 1995: 167 [Marginellidae] Longinella Laseron, 1957: 286 (non Gros & Lestage, 1927). Type species (o.d.): Marginella maugeana Hedley, 1915.   Ref.: Coovert & Coovert, 1995: 95.		    
ERATOIDEA Weinkauff, 1879  
Marginella section Marginella, gruppe Eratoidea Weinkauff, 1879: 140. Type species (s.d. Cossmann, 1899: 87): Marginella margarita Kiener, 1834; Western Atlantic. Miocene of Caribbean, to recent. 1 to 1470m; Eratoidea Weinkauff, 1879; Coovert & Coovert, 1995: 96 [Marginellini].   Ref.: Coovert & Coovert, 1995: 96.		    
EURYENTOME Cossmann, 1899  
Cryptospira subg. Cryptospira, section Euryentome Cossmann, 1899: 95. Type species (o.d.): Marginella crassilabra Conrad, 1833 (non Marginella crassilabra Bory de St. Vincent, 1827), [= Marginella silabra Palmer, 1937 , = Marginella anatina Lea, 1833]; Eocene of Alabama and Mississippi, to Miocene of Trinidad; Euryentome Cossmann, 1899; Coovert & Coovert, 1995: 96 [Marginellini].   Ref.: Coovert & Coovert, 1995: 96.		    
SIMPLICOGLABELLA Sacco, 1890  
Marginella, subg. Glabella, section Simplicoglabella Sacco, 1890: 21 (313). Type species (s.d. Eames, 1952: 119): Marginella (Glabella) taurinensis Michelotti, 1847; Miocene of Italy. Simplicoglabella Sacco, 1890; Coovert & Coovert, 1995: 97 [Marginellini].   Ref.: Coovert & Coovert, 1995: 97.		    
MARGINELLA Lamarck, 1799  
Marginella Lamarck, 1799: 70. Type species (monotypy): Voluta glabella Linne, 1758; Indo-Pacific, western Atlantic, west Africa, South Africa. Miocene and Pliocene of Italy to recent. Intertidal to 2083m; Vaught, 1989: 53; Coovert & Coovert, 1995: 97 [Marginellini]; Pacaud & Le Renard, 1995: 167 [Marginellidae]; Le Renard, 1996: 77; Marginella, subg. Glabella, section Denticuloglabella Sacco, 1890: 25 (317). Type species (monotypy): Marginella (Glabella) deshayesi Michelotti, 1847; Cucumis Deshayes, 1830: 34 (in synonymy) Porcellana Gray J.E., 1847 (non Lamarck, 1801): 142. Type species (o.d.(monotypy)): Voluta glabella Linne, 1758; Pseudomarginella von Maltzan, 1880: 108. Type species (monotypy.): Pseudomarginella adansoni Maltzan, 1880, [= Voluta glabella Linnaeus, 1758]; Marginellarius Duméril, 1806 (em.); Marginellus Montfort, 1810 (em.); Marginilla Swainson, 1831 (err.); Marginellana H. & A. Adams, 1853 (err.).   Ref.: Coovert & Coovert, 1995: 97.		 Marginella bairstowiMarginella bairstowi Sowerby, 1886 - South Africa, 15-16mm. A form from the eastern Cape Peninsula taken scuba diving in ± 15 meters of water. Ref.: Marginella bairstowiMarginella bairstowi Sowerby, 1886 - South Africa, 14-16mm. Dredged off East London in ± 55 meters of water. Ref.:
Marginella nebulosaMarginella nebulosa (Bolten in Röding, P.F., 1798) - South Africa, 41mm. Grows to be one of the largest South African species in the genus Marginella. Ref.: Marginella ornataMarginella ornata Redfield, 1870 - South Africa, 32.5mm; the color varies; some are gray, others with rich colors like this illustrated shell. Ref.: Marginella peelaeMarginella peelae Bozzetti, 1993 - South Africa, 23-24mm; immediately identifiable by the black tick markings along the margin of the lip. Ref.:
Marginella sp.Marginella sp. - South Africa, 15mm; a multitude of Marginella species inhabit the waters off South Africa; this species is probably undescribed, one of many new Marginella that have been discovered by scuba divers during the past number of years. Ref.:    
GLABELLA Swainson, 1840  
Glabella Swainson, 1840: 133, 324. Type species (s.d. Gray, 1847: 142, monotypy): Voluta faba Linne, 1758; Indo-Pacific, west Africa. Recent only. Intertidal to 183m; Coovert & Coovert, 1993: 98 [Marginellini]; Marginella, section Phaenospira Hinds, 1844: 72. Type species (s.d. Gray, 1847: 142): Marginella noduta (sic) Hinds, 1844, [= Marginella nodata Hinds, 1844]; Phoenospira Petit, 1851 (err.); Marginella subg. Marginella, section Faba Fischer, 1883: 602. Type species (monotypy): Marginella faba (Linne, 1758), [= Voluta faba Linne, 1758]; Marginella (Glabella); Pacaud & Le Renard, 1995: 167 [Marginellidae].   Ref.: Coovert & Coovert, 1995: 98.		 Glabella mirabilisGlabella mirabilis (Adams, H.G., 1869) - Somalia, 28mm - trawled in ± 200 meters of water. Deep and shallow water forms exhibit considerable variation. Ref.:  
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