Synaptocochlea

Synaptocochlea
Drawing of a shell of Synaptocochlea picta
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Gastropoda
Subclass:	Vetigastropoda
Order:	Trochida
Family:	Trochidae
Subfamily:	Fossarininae
Genus:	Synaptocochlea Pilsbry, 1890
Type species
Stomatella montrouzieri Pilsbry, 1890
Synonyms
Stomatella (Synaptocochlea) Pilsbry, 1890

Synaptocochlea is a genus of very small sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Trochidae, the top snails.

Description

The oval shell is intermediate between Stomatella and Gena in contour. The very short spire is sub-marginal. The surface is spirally striated or decussated. The very large aperture is longer than it is wide. The animal has an operculum.

Distribution

This marine genus occurs in the tropical Indo-West Pacific, Indo-Malaysia, Oceania and off Australia (Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia)

Species

Species within the genus Synaptocochlea include:

• Synaptocochlea asperulata (A. Adams, 1850)
• Synaptocochlea belmonti Simone, 2009
• Synaptocochlea caliginosa H. & A. Adams, 1863
• Synaptocochlea concinna (Gould, 1845)
• Synaptocochlea granosa (Lambert, 1874)
• Synaptocochlea montrouzieri (Pilsbry, 1890)
• Synaptocochlea picta (d'Orbigny, 1847)
• Synaptocochlea pulchella (A. Adams, 1850)
• Synaptocochlea stellata (Souverbie, 1863)

The Indo-Pacific Molluscan Database also mentions the following species

• Synaptocochlea hexagonum Philippi, 1850
• Synaptocochlea tursicus Reeve, 1848

Species brought into synonymy

• Synaptocochlea inconcinna auct. non Pilsbry, 1921: synonym of Synaptocochlea picta (d'Orbigny, 1847)
• Synaptocochlea lactea Usticke, 1959: synonym of Synaptocochlea picta (d'Orbigny, 1847)
• Synaptocochlea nigrita Rehder, 1939: synonym of Synaptocochlea picta (d'Orbigny, 1847)
• Synaptocochlea picta (Montrouzier in Souverbie & Montrouzier, 1862): synonym of Synaptocochlea montrouzieri (Pilsbry, 1890)

References

• Vaught, K.C. (1989). A classification of the living Mollusca. American Malacologists: Melbourne, FL (USA). ISBN 0-915826-22-4. XII, 195 pp.

External links

• Pilsbry, H. A. (1890-1891). Manual of conchology, structural and systematic, with illustrations of the species. Ser. 1. Vol. 12: Stomatellidae, Scissurellidae, Pleurotomariidae, Haliotidae, Scutellinidae, Addisoniidae, Cocculinidae, Fissurellidae. pp 1-323, pls 1-65. Philadelphia, published by the Conchological Section, Academy of Natural Sciences.