• Source: Ficidae

Ficidae, common name the fig shells are a family of medium to large marine gastropods. It is the only family in the superfamily Ficoidea.
According to taxonomy of the Gastropoda by Bouchet & Rocroi (2005) the family Ficidae has no subfamilies.
The shells of these snails are shaped rather like figs or pears, hence the common name.
The Ficidae were previously included in the Tonnaceae (now Tonnoidea) along with the Tonnidae and Cassididae.




Distribution


The family is found worldwide, mostly in tropical and subtropical silt and mud covered neritic zones.




Shell description


The shells of species in the Ficidae are thin but strong. They have a large aperture and a long siphonal canal, but an extremely low spire which does not protrude above the outline of the body whorl.
Fig shells very often have subdued spiral ribbing, and are subtly patterned in shades of very pale brown and beige.




Genera


Genera within the family Ficidae include:

Ficus Röding, 1798
† Austroficopsis Stilwell & Zinsmeister, 1992
† Ficopsis Conrad, 1866
† Fusoficula
† Gonysycon
Thalassocyon Barnard, 1960
Genera brought into synonymy

Ficula Swainson, 1835 : synonym of Ficus Röding, 1798
Pirula Montfort, 1810 : synonym of Ficus Röding, 1798
Pyrula Lamarck, 1799 : synonym of Ficus Röding, 1798
Sycotypus Gray, 1847 : synonym of Ficus Röding, 1798




References






Further reading



Powell A. W. B., New Zealand Mollusca, William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1979 ISBN 0-00-216906-1
Miocene Gastropods and Biostratigraphy of the Kern River Area, California; United States Geological Survey Professional Paper 642 This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.

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