Melanella is a genus of very small ectoparasitic sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs or micromolluscs in the family Eulimidae.Gofas, S. (2011). Melanella Bowdich, 1822. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=137978 on 04 December 2022
General characteristics The shell is ovoid, with a distinctly elevated spire. The aperture is large, with its base somewhat produced and broadly rounded. The operculum is paucispiral, with a subspiral nucleus. [Tryon, George Washington. Manual of Conchology, Structural and Systematic: With Illustrations of the Species. Vol. 4. Author, Academy of Natural Sciences, 1882: p. 252]
The genus comprises white, polished shells with a produced body whorl and an inner lip appressed to the attenuated base throughout its entire length, or at least along most of it. The shells may be either straight or flexed.
Melanella species are mostly ecto- and endoparasites on sea cucumbers and starfish. They can be host-specific or generalist.
Species The following species are recognised in the genus Melanella:
The Indo-Pacific Molluscan Database also includes the following species with names in current useOBIS : Melanella
Melanella australiensis (Thiele, 1930) Melanella campyla (Watson, 1883) Melanella carneola (Gould, 1861 in 1859–61) Melanella curvata (A. Adams, 1861-b) Melanella dentaliopsis (A. Adams, 1861-b) Melanella flexa (A. Adams, 1861-b) Melanella labiosa (Sowerby II, 1834-b) Melanella nivea (A. Adams, 1861): species inquirenda Melanella oblonga (Boettger) Melanella reclinata (A. Adams, 1861)(uncertain > unassessed, use in recent literature not established by editor) Melanella scitula (A. Adams, 1861-b) (uncertain > unassessed, use in recent literature not established by editor) Melanella semitorta (A. Adams, 1861-b) (uncertain > unassessed, use in recent literature not established by editor) Melanella stenostoma (A. Adams, 1861-b) Melanella stylata (A. Adams, 1861-b) Melanella valida (A. Adams, 1861-b) (uncertain > unassessed, use in recent literature not established by editor) Melanella venusta (Pease, 1868-b)
Synonyms See List of synonyms of Melanella
References
Leach, 1847 [in Gray] Annals and Magazine of Natural History, 20: 271; Placed on the Official List by Opinion 1739, 1993, Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature, 50(3): 242
Gofas, S.; Le Renard, J.; Bouchet, P. (2001). Mollusca, in: Costello, M.J. et al. (Ed.) (2001). European register of marine species: a check-list of the marine species in Europe and a bibliography of guides to their identification. Collection Patrimoines Naturels, 50: pp. 180–213
External links Bowdich, T.E. 1822. Elements of Conchology, including the fossil genera and animals. Part 1. Univalves. Paris : Smith pp. i–xi, 14–73, index 1–3, 19 pls, 2 tables Gray, J. E. (1847). A list of the genera of recent Mollusca, their synonyma and types. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London. (1847) 15: 129-219 Laseron, C. 1955. Revision of the New South Wales eulimoid shells. The Australian Zoologist 12(2): 83–107, pls 1–3, figs 1–78 [85–86, 101] [Euliamaustra is an alternative original spelling (p. 85); spelling Eulimaustra selected by First Reviser action by McMichael & Whitley, 1961, The Marine Zoologist, 1(8): 124] Serge GOFAS, Ángel A. LUQUE, Joan Daniel OLIVER, José TEMPLADO & Alberto SERRA (2021) - The Mollusca of Galicia Bank (NE Atlantic Ocean); European Journal of Taxonomy 785: 1–114
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