The Littorinidae are a taxonomic family of over 200 species of sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the clade Littorinimorpha, commonly known as periwinkles and found world-wide.

Names [edit]

In English-speaking countries in other parts of the world, gastropod molluscs from other families, such as the Neritidae are sometimes also commonly known as "winkles", simply because they are small, round, marine snails that occupy a similar ecological niche.

Taxonomy [edit]

These subfamilies have been recognized in the taxonomy of Bouchet & Rocroi (2005):

• Subfamily Littorininae Children, 1834 - synonyms: Echinininae Rosewater, 1972; Tectariinae Rosewater, 1972; Melaraphidae Starobogatov & Sitnikova, 1983
• Subfamily Lacuninae Gray, 1857 - synonyms: Risellidae Kesteven, 1903; Cremnoconchinae Preston, 1915; Bembiciidae Finlay, 1928.
• Subfamily Laevilitorininae Reid, 1989

Genera [edit]

Genera within the family Littorinidae include:^[3]

Littorininae

• Afrolittorina Williams, Reid & Littlewood, 2003
• Austrolittorina Rosewater, 1970
• Cenchritis von Martens, 1900
• Echinolittorina Habe, 1956 - synonyms: Amerolittorina Reid, 2009;^[4] Fossarilittorina Rosewater, 1981; Granulilittorina Habe & Kosuge, 1966; Lineolittorina Reid, 2009^[4]
• Littoraria Griffith & Pidgeon, 1834 - 39 species
• Littorina Férussac, 1822 - 18 species - type genus
• Mainwaringia Nevill, 1885^[5]
• Melarhaphe Menke, 1828
• Nodilittorina von Martens, 1897 - this genus proved to be polyphyletic and in 2003 was divided into:
  • Echinolittorina - 59 species worldwide
  • Austrolittorina - five species
  • Afrolittorina - four species
  • Nodilittorina s.s. - the monotypic subgenus^[6]
• Peasiella - Nevill, 1885
• Tectarius Valenciennes, 1833 - 11 species, its synonym or subgenus includes: Echininus Clench & Abbott, 1942.

Lacuninae

• Bembicium Philippi, 1846
• Cremnoconchus Blanford, 1869^[5][7] - freshwater snails living in waterfalls.^[2]
• Lacuna Turton, 1827 - synonym: Aquilonaria Dall, 1886
• Pellilitorina Pfeffer in Martens & Pfeffer, 1886
• Risellopsis Kesteven, 1902

Laevilitorininae

• Laevilitorina Pfeiffer, 1886

subfamily ?

• Algamorda Dall, 1918
• Macquariella Finlay, 1927 (?)
• Rissolitorina Ponder, 1966

Synonyms

• Haloconcha Dall, 1886 is a synonym for Lacunaria Dall, 1885^{[citation needed]}

References [edit]

• "Littorinidae". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. 
• Powell A. W. B., New Zealand Mollusca, William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1979 ISBN 0-00-216906-1

Further reading [edit]

David G. Reid, Suzanne T. Williams (2004). "The subfamily Littorininae in the Temperate Southern Hemisphere: the genera Nodilittorina, Austrolittorina and Afrolittorina". Record of the Australian Museum 56: 75–122. doi:10.3853/j.0067-1975.56.2004.1393.