Colubrariidae Dall, 1904

Harzhauser, Mathias & Landau, Bernard M., 2024, The Colubrariidae, Eosiphonidae, Melongenidae, Pisaniidae, Prodotiidae and Tudiclidae (Gastropoda, Buccinoidea) of the Miocene Paratethys Sea, Zootaxa 5427 (1), pp. 1-110 : 6-7

Family Colubrariidae Dall, 1904

Revised diagnosis. “ Shell medium-large to large, reaching over 110 mm, from narrow fusiform to broad fusiform, with medium to high spire and short but distinct siphonal canal. Protoconch usually paucispiral of 1–2.5 smooth whorls, up to four whorls ( Metula ). Spire whorls evenly convex, without pronounced shoulder. Axial sculpture present or absent; when present, of distinct narrow and closely spaced axial ribs, crossing the spiral cords and forming reticulated sculpture pattern, often with regularly or irregularly spaced varices. Spiral sculpture of weak threads or fine, regularly set, beaded cords or strong spiral cords forming knobs at intersection with axials. Aperture medium to high, lanceolate due to sharp posterior corner. Outer lip usually lirate inside […]. Columella smooth, often heavily callused.” ( Kantor et al. 2022: 806).

Discussion. The relationships of this family were discussed by Kantor et al. (2022) in their buccinoidean molecular phylogeny. The genera Colubraria Schumacher, 1817 and Metula H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853 occur in Paratethyan assemblages.

Genus Colubraria Schumacher, 1817

Type species. Colubraria granulata Schumacher, 1817 [= Colubraria muricata ([Lightfoot, 1786]), by monotypy. Present-day, Indo-West Pacific.

Original diagnosis. “ Aperture oblong oval; outer lip with margin, internally plicate-dentate; inner lip callous, anteriorly thickened and detached. Columella varicose and with transverse folds. Rostrum short, open at both ends and canaliculate.” ( Schumacher 1817: 76, translated from Latin).

Discussion. Colubraria species inhabit shallow marine, rocky and coral environments in tropical, sub-tropical and temperate seas where they feed on the blood of fishes ( Modica et al. 2015; Oliverio & Modica 2010). Colubraria is a rare element in the Paratethyan assemblages.