Nassariidae


The Nassariidae, Nassa mud snails, or dog whelks, are a taxonomic family of small to medium-sized sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the clade Neogastropoda.
"Dog whelk" also refers to Nucella lapillus.

Shell description

These snails have rounded shells with a high spire, an oval aperture, and a siphonal notch.

Distribution

This family of snails is found worldwide.

Habitat

These snails are found mostly in shallow water, on sandy or muddy substrates, often intertidally, but sometimes in deep water. They can be present in very large numbers in suitable habitat.

Feeding habits

Nassariidae are primarily active and lively scavengers.

2005 taxonomy

The family Nassariidae is closely related to the family of the true whelks, Buccinidae, because of their shared characteristics in the anatomy of the species in these families,), i.e. a long proboscis, the loss of glandular dorsal folds, and a smaller gland of Leiblein.
According to the taxonomy of the Gastropoda by Bouchet & Rocroi the family Nassariidae consists of four subfamilies:
Gray, 1857 was recognized

2017 taxonomy

A new subfamily Anentominae was recognized.
Genera within the family Nassariidae include:
;Nassariinae
List of synonyms in Nassariinae:
;Anentominae
;Buccinanopsinae Galindo, Puillandre, Lozouet & Bouchet, 2016
;Bullinae
;Cylleninae
;Dorsaninae
;Photinae
;Subfamily ?