Cymbulioidea
Encyclopedia
Cymbulioidea is a taxonomic superfamily
of pelagic "sea butterflies
". These are holoplanktonic
opisthobranch molluscs in the clade Thecosomata.
The lateral and posterior foot lobes are joined as a ciliated proboscis
that leads to the mouth, and the wings are united ventrally to form a single plate.
A more general description is given under the entry sea butterfly
.
The group was originally referred to as the Pseudothecosomata Meisenheimer, 1905, although this name is invalid under the ICZN
and thus is no longer recognized. Instead its three families are categorized within the superfamily Cymbulioidea, which is itself part of the clade
Thecosomata.
The superfamily Cymbulioidea consists of three following subfamilies (according to the taxonomy of the Gastropoda by Bouchet & Rocroi, 2005
):
Taxonomic rank
In biological classification, rank is the level in a taxonomic hierarchy. Examples of taxonomic ranks are species, genus, family, and class. Each rank subsumes under it a number of less general categories...
of pelagic "sea butterflies
Sea butterfly
Sea butterflies, also known as Thecosomata or flapping snails, are a taxonomic suborder of small pelagic swimming sea snails. These are holoplanktonic opisthobranch gastropod mollusks in the informal group Opisthobranchia. They include some of the world's most abundant gastropod species.This group...
". These are holoplanktonic
Holoplankton
Holoplankton are organisms that are planktonic for their entire life cycle. Examples of holoplankton include some diatoms, radiolarians, some dinoflagellates, foraminifera, amphipods, krill, copepods, and salps.-Sources:Asexual Holoplankton:...
opisthobranch molluscs in the clade Thecosomata.
Anatomy
Some groups within this superfamily possess a shell in the adult stage, some are without, and others have developed a relatively tough gelatinous, cartilaginous internal structure, a sort of fake shell called the pseudoconch.The lateral and posterior foot lobes are joined as a ciliated proboscis
Proboscis
A proboscis is an elongated appendage from the head of an animal, either a vertebrate or an invertebrate. In simpler terms, a proboscis is the straw-like mouth found in several varieties of species.-Etymology:...
that leads to the mouth, and the wings are united ventrally to form a single plate.
A more general description is given under the entry sea butterfly
Sea butterfly
Sea butterflies, also known as Thecosomata or flapping snails, are a taxonomic suborder of small pelagic swimming sea snails. These are holoplanktonic opisthobranch gastropod mollusks in the informal group Opisthobranchia. They include some of the world's most abundant gastropod species.This group...
.
Taxonomy
International Code of Zoological Nomenclature
The International Code of Zoological Nomenclature is a widely accepted convention in zoology that rules the formal scientific naming of organisms treated as animals...
and thus is no longer recognized. Instead its three families are categorized within the superfamily Cymbulioidea, which is itself part of the clade
Clade
A clade is a group consisting of a species and all its descendants. In the terms of biological systematics, a clade is a single "branch" on the "tree of life". The idea that such a "natural group" of organisms should be grouped together and given a taxonomic name is central to biological...
Thecosomata.
The superfamily Cymbulioidea consists of three following subfamilies (according to the taxonomy of the Gastropoda by Bouchet & Rocroi, 2005
Taxonomy of the Gastropoda (Bouchet & Rocroi, 2005)
The taxonomy of the Gastropoda as it was revised by Philippe Bouchet and Jean-Pierre Rocroi is currently the most up-to-date overall system for classifying gastropod mollusks...
):
- Family PeraclidaePeraclidaePeraclidae is a family of pelagic sea snails or "sea butterflies", marine gastropod mollusks in the superfamily Cymbulioidea.This family has no subfamilies ....
C. W. Johnson, 1915- Genus Peracle Forbes, 1844
- Family CymbuliidaeCymbuliidaeCymbuliidae is a family of pelagic sea snails or "sea butterflies", marine gastropod mollusks in the superfamily Cymbulioidea.- Description :...
J.E. GrayJohn Edward GrayJohn Edward Gray, FRS was a British zoologist. He was the elder brother of George Robert Gray and son of the pharmacologist and botanist Samuel Frederick Gray ....
, 1840- Genus CorollaCorolla (gastropod)Corolla is a genus of pelagic "sea butterflies". These are holoplanktonic opisthobranch molluscs belonging to the family Cymbuliidae. They are preyed upon by the gymnosome pteropods of the genus Cliopsis. -Species:Species within this genus include:...
Dall, 1871 - Genus Cymbulia Peron & LesueurCharles Alexandre LesueurCharles Alexandre Lesueur was a French naturalist, artist and explorer.Pictured here is the oil portrait by Charles Willson Peale of Charles-Alexandre Lesueur...
, 1810 - Genus Gleba ForsskålPeter ForsskålPeter Forsskål, sometimes spelled Pehr Forsskål, Peter Forskaol, Petrus Forskål or Pehr Forsskåhl, was a Swedish explorer, orientalist, naturalist and an apostle of Carl Linnaeus.-Early life:...
, 1776
- Genus Corolla
- Family DesmopteridaeDesmopteridaeDesmopteridae is a family of pelagic sea snails or "sea butterflies", marine gastropod mollusks in the superfamily Cymbulioidea.This family has no subfamilies ....
(Dall, 1921)- Genus Desmopterus Chun, 1889
Further reading
- Lalli C. M. & Gilmer R. W. (1989) Pelagic Snails. The biology of holoplanktonic gastropod molluscs. Stanford University Press: Stanford, California.