Mathildidae is a family of small sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the superfamily Mathildoidea of the informal group of the Lower Heterobranchia.Bouchet, P.; Gofas, S. (2012). Mathildidae. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=23070 on 2012-06-29
General characteristics (Original description) These shells recall Bittium and Turritella. They feature a blunt apex upon which a small, heterostrophic, Adeorbis-shaped protoconch is set on its edge, often tilting to one side of the axis. The operculum is reported to be multispiral and externally concave, while the soft parts of the animal are externally quite similar to those of Turritella.The dentition of the group, however, remains unknown. .
Distribution This group is abundantly represented in the Eocene Tertiary of the Paris Basin. A few recent species are widely distributed, including two or three that inhabit the Mediterranean.
Genera Genera within the family Mathildidae include: † Acrocoelum Cossmann, 1888 † Angulathilda Gründel & Nützel, 2013 † Bandelthilda Gründel, 1997 † Bathraspira Cossmann, 1906 Brookesena Finlay, 1926 † Carinathilda Gründel, 1997 † Echinimathilda Sohl, 1961 † Eomathilda H. J. Finlay & Marwick, 1937 † Erratothilda Gründel, 1997 Fimbriatella Sacco, 1895 † Gymnothilda M. Schröder, 1995 † Jurilda Gründel, 1973 † Lemniscolittorina Sohl, 1961 Mathilda Semper, 1865 † Pseudalaria Hudleston, 1889 † Pseudotuba Harzhauser & Landau, 2023 † Tangarilda Gründel, 2010 † Teretrina Cossmann, 1912 † Toulminella Bieler & Dockery, 2007 † Tricarilda Gründel, 1973 Tuba Lea, 1833 Turritellopsis G. O. Sars, 1878 † Valsantia Ludbrook, 1957 † Veterator Laws, 1944
Genera brought into synonymy Eucharilda Iredale, 1929: synonym of Mathilda Semper, 1865 Fimbriatella Sacco, 1895: synonym of Mathilda Semper, 1865 Gegania Jeffreys, 1884: synonym of Tuba Lea, 1833 Granulicharilda Kuroda & Habe in Kuroda, Habe & Oyama, 1971: synonym of Mathilda Semper, 1865 Mathildona Iredale, 1929: synonym of Mathilda Semper, 1865 Opimilda Iredale, 1929: synonym of Mathilda Semper, 1865
References
Rudiger Bieler, Mathildidae from New Caledonia and the Loyalty Islands (Gastropoda: Heterobranchia); 1995, Mémoires du Museum national d'Histoire naturelle, Paris Jensen, R. H. (1997). A Checklist and Bibliography of the Marine Molluscs of Bermuda. Unp., 547 pp
External links
Powell A. W. B., New Zealand Mollusca, William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1979