Ostracolethinae, Simroth, 1901

Hyman, Isabel T. & Ponder, Winston F., 2010, A morphological phylogenetic analysis and generic revision of Australian Helicarionidae (Gastropoda: Pulmonata: Stylommatophora), and an assessment of the relationships of the family 2462, Zootaxa 2462 (1), pp. 1-148 : 99

Subfamily Ostracolethinae

Remarks. This group has in the past been referred to as Parmarioninae ( Baker 1941a; Solem 1966). However, Hausdorf (1998) argued that Ostracolethe Simroth, 1901 should be grouped with Parmarioninae , citing similarities in the reproductive system and geographical distribution, and that Ostracolethinae has priority over Parmarioninae . Schileyko (2003a) does not include Ostracolethe in Parmarioninae and recognises Ostracolethidae as a family of Helicarionoidea .

Ostracolethinae was defined by Hausdorf (1998) based on the highly reduced shell, presence of a stimulator with a highly calcareous dart and attachment of the penis retractor directly to the epiphallus. All three characters were observed in Parmarion martensi Simroth, 1893 . We define Ostracolthinae by the following key characters:

Shell reduced; sole furrows indistinct. Flagellum and bursa copulatrix very short; epiphallic caecum not coiled; stimulator present.