Lepetodrilidae is a family of small, deep-sea sea snails, hydrothermal vent limpets, marine gastropod molluscs in the clade Vetigastropoda (according to the taxonomy of the Gastropoda by Bouchet & Rocroi, 2005).[2]
| Lepetodrilidae Temporal range:
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| Numerous individuals of the hydrothermal vent limpet Lepetodrilus sp. partially cover the shells of Gigantopelta chessoia on the East Scotia Ridge site E2 in the Scotia Sea | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Subclass: | Vetigastropoda |
| Order: | Lepetellida |
| Superfamily: | Lepetodriloidea |
| Family: | Lepetodrilidae McLean, 1988 |
| Synonyms[2] | |
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This family has no subfamilies.
Description
editThese deep-sea species are found and are endemic at hydrothermal vents. Their limpet-shaped shell consist of non-nacreous aragonite. The thick periostracum covers the shell edge. The apex is posterior, in some species projecting posteriorly, and deflected to the right. The shell has no sculpture or it consists of beads or imbricate radial ribs. There is no operculum. The muscle scar forms the shape of a horseshoe. The rhipidoglossate radula is special as the lateral teeth descend toward the rachidian in a v-arrangement. The conspicuous penis is situated near the base of the right cephalic tentacle.[3]
Genera
editGenera within the family Lepetodrilidae include:
- Clypeosectus McLean, 1989
- Gorgoleptis McLean, 1988
- Lepetodrilus McLean, 1988
- Pseudorimula McLean, 1989
References
edit- ^ Lindberg, edited by Winston F. Ponder, David R. (2008). Phylogeny and evolution of the Mollusca. Berkeley: University of California Press. ISBN 978-0-520-25092-5.
{{cite book}}:|first1=has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ a b Bouchet, P.; Gofas, S. (2012). Lepetodrilidae. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=180906 on 2013-02-16
- ^ J. H. McLean, New Archaeogastropod Limpets from Hydrothermal Vents; Superfamily Lepetodrilacea I. Systematic Descriptions, Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences, Vol. 319, No. 1192 (May 4, 1988), pp. 1-32
- McLean J. H. (1989). Contributions in Science, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County 407: 15
External links
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Media related to Lepetodrilidae at Wikimedia Commons
