Hydrobiidae, commonly known as mud snails, is a large

cosmopolitan Cosmopolitan may refer to: Food and drink * Cosmopolitan (cocktail), also known as a "Cosmo" History * Rootless cosmopolitan, a Soviet derogatory epithet during Joseph Stalin's anti-Semitic campaign of 1949–1953 Hotels and resorts * Cosmopoli ...

family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...

of very small

freshwater Fresh water or freshwater is any naturally occurring liquid or frozen water containing low concentrations of dissolved salts and other total dissolved solids. Although the term specifically excludes seawater and brackish water, it does incl ...

and

brackish water Brackish water, sometimes termed brack water, is water occurring in a natural environment that has more salinity than freshwater, but not as much as seawater. It may result from mixing seawater (salt water) and fresh water together, as in estuari ...

snails with an operculum; they are in the order

Littorinimorpha Littorinimorpha is a large order of snails, gastropods, consisting primarily of sea snails (marine species), but also including some freshwater snails ( aquatic species) and land snails ( terrestrial species).Bouchet P. & Rocroi J.-P. (Ed.); Frý ...

Distribution

Hydrobiidae are found in much of the world, inhabiting all continents except Antarctica. In Australia alone there are over 260 species in the family.

Description

These are very small or minute snails, with a shell height of less than 8 mm. The dextrally-coiled shells are smooth (except for growth lines conforming to the shape of the outer lip) and are usually rather nondescript. The shell offers very few robust characteristics to the systematist who is attempting to classify the species within this family. This difficulty is compounded by a high degree of intraspecific variation. Descriptions often have to be based on the characteristics of the operculum,

radula The radula (, ; plural radulae or radulas) is an anatomical structure used by molluscs for feeding, sometimes compared to a tongue. It is a minutely toothed, chitinous ribbon, which is typically used for scraping or cutting food before the food ...

and

penis A penis (plural ''penises'' or ''penes'' () is the primary sexual organ that male animals use to inseminate females (or hermaphrodites) during copulation. Such organs occur in many animals, both vertebrate and invertebrate, but males d ...

. The shell of species within this family varies from planispiral to needle-shaped. The shell may have an open umbilicus or a plugged umbilicus. The thickness of the shell can vary from thin to fairly solid. The shell may be transparent and horn-colored, or colorless. The number of whorls in the shell varies between two and eight. The shell can sometimes even assume a corkscrew or hornlike shape by loosening of the attachment of body whorl. The

periostracum The periostracum ( ) is a thin, organic coating (or "skin") that is the outermost layer of the shell of many shelled animals, including molluscs and brachiopods. Among molluscs, it is primarily seen in snails and clams, i.e. in gastropods ...

(outer layer of the shell) is usually thin, and is often colored. It can sometimes show hair-like projections. The sinuous

aperture In optics, an aperture is a hole or an opening through which light travels. More specifically, the aperture and focal length of an optical system determine the cone angle of a bundle of rays that come to a focus in the image plane. An ...

is entire, not interrupted by a siphonal canal or other extensions. It is sometimes thickened. The

protoconch A protoconch (meaning first or earliest or original shell) is an embryonic or larval shell which occurs in some classes of molluscs, e.g., the initial chamber of an ammonite or the larval shell of a gastropod. In older texts it is also called " ...

is usually shaped like a dome, and usually shows a few spirals. The corneous operculum is usually well-formed and shows only a few spirals. The head, foot, mantle and visceral coil are colored pale gray to dark purple-black with

melanin Melanin (; from el, μέλας, melas, black, dark) is a broad term for a group of natural pigments found in most organisms. Eumelanin is produced through a multistage chemical process known as melanogenesis, where the oxidation of the amino ...

pigments. Subterranean species are often unpigmented. The strong foot can be retracted into the shell. The mucous glands are situated at the anterior edge of the foot. There are no posterior mucous glands. The symmetrical cephalic tentacles are threadlike, with blunt or rounded tips. The eyes are located at the base of the tentacles. The ctenidium (a comblike respiratory apparatus) goes along most of the length of the pallial cavity. This respiratory gill consists of 10 to 200 triangular filaments. The osphradium, the olfactory organ linked with the respiration organ, is usually relatively small. The taenioglossate

consists of more than fifty rows of teeth. The central tooth is trapezoidal. The lateral teeth have few to numerous cusps. The marginal teeth are usually with numerous cusps. The species usually have both male and female individuals, but very rarely reproduction may be

parthenogenic Parthenogenesis (; from the Greek grc, παρθένος, translit=parthénos, lit=virgin, label=none + grc, γένεσις, translit=génesis, lit=creation, label=none) is a natural form of asexual reproduction in which growth and development ...

, caused by internal fertilization. The females lay eggs in single capsules on the leaves or stems of water plants. But sometimes they produce eggs that are hatched within the pallial gonoduct of the body, and in these cases the young are born alive. Species that inhabit estuaries sometimes produce veliger larvae. The fossil record of this family extends back to the

Early Carboniferous Early may refer to: History * The beginning or oldest part of a defined historical period, as opposed to middle or late periods, e.g.: ** Early Christianity ** Early modern Europe Places in the United States * Early, Iowa * Early, Texas * Ear ...

Ecology

Habitat

Most species of this family live in freshwater (lakes, ponds, rivers, streams), but some are found in brackish water or at the borders between freshwater and brackish water. A few occur in marine environments on sandy or muddy bottoms between algae and sea grass.

Feeding habits

These small snails feed on

algae Algae (; singular alga ) is an informal term for a large and diverse group of photosynthetic eukaryotic organisms. It is a polyphyletic grouping that includes species from multiple distinct clades. Included organisms range from unicellular micr ...

diatom A diatom ( Neo-Latin ''diatoma''), "a cutting through, a severance", from el, διάτομος, diátomos, "cut in half, divided equally" from el, διατέμνω, diatémno, "to cut in twain". is any member of a large group comprising se ...

s and

detritus In biology, detritus () is dead particulate organic material, as distinguished from dissolved organic material. Detritus typically includes the bodies or fragments of bodies of dead organisms, and fecal material. Detritus typically hosts comm ...

Taxonomy

This is the largest family within the superfamily Truncatelloidea. At one time or another some 400 genera have been assigned to this family, and probably more than 1,000 species. The Hydrobiidae family is the most widespread and diverse family of freshwater molluscs in the world, occupying a range of habitats from streams and

estuarine An estuary is a partially enclosed coastal body of brackish water with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and with a free connection to the open sea. Estuaries form a transition zone between river environments and maritime environmen ...

creeks to alpine bogs. This family was originally named by Troschel in 1857, as the group Hydrobiae. Troschel was not certain of their rank, and he placed them in the Taenioglossata: Ctenobranchiata between the Lithoglyphi and Ancyloti. Over the years there have been numerous attempts to give an adequate and more finely divided classification. Thiele (1925, 1929 and 1931) set up the most comprehensive classification, with a review of the family at generic level. Notable works about taxonomy of Hydrobiidae includes works by Radoman, for example Radoman (1983).book description
The classification, as specified by Kabat and Hershler (1993), does not form a

monophyletic In cladistics for a group of organisms, monophyly is the condition of being a clade—that is, a group of taxa composed only of a common ancestor (or more precisely an ancestral population) and all of its lineal descendants. Monophyletic gr ...

group, and was in need of revision. A study by Wilke et al. (2001) using molecular data from COI (

Cytochrome c oxidase subunit I Cytochrome c oxidase I (COX1) also known as mitochondrially encoded cytochrome c oxidase I (MT-CO1) is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ''MT-CO1'' gene. In other eukaryotes, the gene is called ''COX1'', ''CO1'', or ''COI''. Cytoch ...

) and 18S genes has resulted in a new tentative set of subfamilies: Hydrobiinae, Pseudamnicolinae, Nymphophilinae, Islamiinae and Horatiinae.

2005 taxonomy

The following subfamilies are recognized in the gastropod taxonomy of Bouchet & Rocroi from 2005: * Hydrobiinae Stimpson, 1865 – synonyms: Paludestrinidae Newton, 1891; Pyrgorientaliinae Radoman, 1977; Pseudocaspiidae Sitnikova & Starobogatov, 1983 * Belgrandiinae de Stefani, 1877 – synonyms: Horatiini D. W. Taylor, 1966; Sadlerianinae Radoman, 1973; Pseudohoratiinae Radoman, 1973; Orientaliidae Radoman, 1973 (inv.); Lithoglyphulidae Radoman, 1973; Orientalinidae Radoman, 1978 (inv.); Belgrandiellinae Radoman, 1983; Dabrianidae Starobogatov, 1983; Istrianidae Starobogatov, 1983; Kireliinae Starobogatov, 1983; lanzaiidae Starobogatov, 1983; Tanousiidae Starobogatov, 1983; Bucharamnicolinae Izzatulaev, Sitnikova & Starobogatov, 1985; Martensamnicolinae Izzatulaev, Sitnikova & Starobogatov, 1985; Turkmenamnicolinae Izzatulaev, Sitnikova & Starobogatov, 1985 * Clenchiellinae D. W. Taylor, 1966Taylor D. W. (1966). ''The Veliger'' 9(2): 181, 199. * Islamiinae Radoman, 1973 * Nymphophilinae D. W. Taylor, 1966 * Pseudamnicolinae Radoman, 1977 * Pyrgulinae Brusina, 1882 (1869) – synonyms: Caspiidae B. Dybowski, 1913; Microliopalaeinae B. Dybowski & Grochmalicki, 1914; Micromelaniidae B. Dybowski & Grochmalicki, 1914; Turricaspiinae B. Dybowski & Grochmalicki, 1915; Liosarmatinae B. Dybowski & Grochmalicki, 1920; Chilopyrgulinae Radoman, 1973; Micropyrgulidae Radoman, 1973; Falsipyrgulinae Radoman, 1983; Ohridopyrgulinae Radoman, 1983; Prosostheniinae Pana, 1989 * Tateinae Thiele, 1925Thiele (1925). ''Handbuch der Zoologie'' 5(1): 80. – synonyms: Potamopyrgidae F. C. Baker, 1928; Hemistomiinae Thiele, 1929 The

Amnicolidae Amnicolidae is a family of small freshwater snails with a gill and an operculum, aquatic gastropod mollusks in the superfamily Rissooidea. This family is in the clade Littorinimorpha (according to the taxonomy of the Gastropoda by Bouchet & R ...

and

Cochliopidae Cochliopidae is a family of small freshwater snails with gills and an operculum, aquatic gastropod mollusks. Paludestrina d'Orbigny, 1840 is an archaic synonym, and has been placed on the Official Index of Rejected and Invalid Names by ICZN ...

are considered as distinct families according to the taxonomy of Bouchet & Rocroi (2005).

Genera

* Belgrandiellinae Radoman, 1983 **'' Arganiella'' Giusti & Pezzoli, 1980 ** '' Balkanica'' Georgiev, 2011 ** '' Balkanospeum'' Georgiev, 2012 ** '' Belgrandiella'' A. J. Wagner, 1928 ** '' Boleana'' Radoman, 1975 ** '' Bythiospeum'' Bourguignat, 1882 ** '' Cavernisa'' Radoman, 1978 ** '' Cilgia'' Schütt, 1968 ** '' Costellina'' Kuščer, 1933 ** '' Devetakia'' Georgiev & Glöer, 2011 ** '' Devetakiola'' Georgiev, 2017 ** '' Graziana'' Radoman, 1975 ** '' Heraultiella'' Bodon, Manganelli & Giusti, 2002 ** ''Insignia'' Angelov, 1972 ** ''Istriana'' Velkovrh, 1971 ** '' Iverakia'' Glöer & Pešić, 2014 ** '' Kerkia'' Radoman, 1978 ** '' Kolevia'' Georgiev & Glöer, 2015 ** '' Lanzaia'' Brusina, 1906 ** '' Lanzaiopsis'' Bole, 1989 ** '' Meyrargueria'' Girardi, 2009 ** '' Microstygia'' Georgiev & Glöer, 2015 ** '' Palacanthilhiopsis'' Bernasconi, 1988 ** '' Phreatica'' Velkovrh, 1970 ** '' Plagigeyeria'' Tomlin, 1930 ** '' Pontobelgrandiella'' Radoman, 1978 ** '' Sarajana'' Radoman, 1975 ** '' Saxurinator'' Schütt, 1960 ** '' Stoyanovia'' Georgiev, 2017 ** '' Zeteana'' Glöer & Pešić, 2014 * Belgrandiinae de Stefani, 1877 ** '' Agrafia'' Szarowska & Falniowski, 2011 ** '' Antibaria'' Radoman, 1983 ** '' Belchatovia'' Kadolsky & Piechocki, 2000 † ** '' Belgrandia'' Bourguignat, 1870 ** '' Bracenica'' Radoman, 1973 ** '' Cyclothyrella'' Neubauer, Mandic, Harzhauser & Hrvatović, 2013 † ** '' Dalmatella'' Velkovrh, 1970 ** '' Dalmatinella'' Radoman, 1973 ** '' Daphniola'' Radoman, 1973 ** '' Gloeria'' Georgiev, Dedov & Cheshmedjiev, 2012 ** '' Gocea'' Hadžišče, 1956 ** '' Graecoanatolica'' Radoman, 1973 ** '' Graecorientalia'' Radoman, 1983 ** '' Grossuana'' Radoman, 1983 ** '' Guadiella'' Boeters, 2003 ** '' Hadziella'' Kuščer, 1932 ** '' Hauffenia'' Pollonera, 1898 ** '' Isimerope'' Radea & Parmakelis, 2013 ** '' Karucia'' Glöer & Pešić, 2013 ** '' Litthabitella'' Boeters, 1970 ** '' Lyhnidia'' Radoman, 1962 ** '' Malaprespia'' Radoman, 1973 ** '' Martinietta'' Schlickum, 1974 † ** '' Microprososthenia'' Kadolsky & Piechocki, 2000 † ** '' Montenegrospeum'' Pešić & Glöer, 2013 ** '' Myrtoessa'' Radea, 2016 ** '' Narentiana'' Radoman, 1973 ** '' Ohridohauffenia'' Hadžišče, 1959 ** '' Ohridohoratia'' Hadžišče, 1959 ** '' Ohrigocea'' Hadžišče, 1959 ** '' Plesiella'' Boeters, 2003 ** '' Prespiana'' Radoman, 1973 ** '' Prespolitorea'' Radoman, 1983 ** '' Pseudavenionia'' Bodon & Giusti, 1982 ** '' Pseudohoratia'' Radoman, 1967 ** '' Pseudoislamia'' Radoman, 1979 ** '' Strugia'' Radoman, 1973 ** '' Sumia'' Glöer & Mrkvicka, 2015 ** '' Tarraconia'' Ramos & Arconada, 2000 ** '' Terranigra'' Radoman, 1978 ** '' Trichonia'' Schütt, 1980 ** '' Turcorientalia'' Radoman, 1973 ** '' Zaumia'' Radoman, 1983 * Caspiinae B. Dybowski, 1913 ** '' Caspia'' Clessin & W. Dybowski, 1887 * Horatiinae D.W. Taylor, 1966 ** '' Anagastina'' Radoman, 1978 ** '' Graecoarganiella'' Falniowski & Szarowska, 2011 ** '' Horatia'' Bourguignat, 1887 ** '' Pezzolia'' Bodon & Giusti, 1986 ** '' Radomaniola'' Szarowska, 2007 ** '' Sadleriana'' Clessin, 1890 ** '' Sardohoratia'' Manganelli, Bodon, Cianfanelli, Talenti & Giusti, 1998 ** '' Tanousia'' Servain, 1881 ** '' Vinodolia'' Radoman, 1973 Peringia ulvae-Nl2

* Hydrobiinae Stimpson, 1865 ** '' Adriohydrobia'' Radoman, 1977 ** '' Ecrobia'' Stimpson, 1865 ** ''

Hydrobia ''Hydrobia'' is a genus of very small brackish water snails with a gill and an operculum, aquatic gastropod mollusks in the family Hydrobiidae.Gofas, S. (2011). Hydrobia Hartmann, 1821. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at htt ...

'' W. Hartmann, 1821 ** '' Peringia'' Paladilhe, 1874 ** ''

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'' Cossmann, 1913 † ** '' Salenthydrobia'' Wilke, 2003 * Nymphophilinae ** '' Birgella'' Baker, 1926 * ''Incertae sedis'' ** '' Anatolidamnicola'' Şahin, Koca & Yildirim, 2012 ** '' Andrusovia'' Brusina in Westerlund, 1902 ** '' Antillobia'' Altaba, 1993 ** '' Arabiella'' Kadolsky, Harzhauser & Neubauer in Harzhauser et al., 2016 † ** '' Austropyrgus'' Cotton, 1942 ** '' Baglivia'' Brusina, 1892 † ** '' Bania'' Brusina, 1896 † ** '' Beogradica'' Pavlović, 1927 † ** '' Brasovia'' Neubauer, Kroh, Harzhauser, Georgopoulou & Mandic, 2015 † ** '' Bullaregia'' Khalloufi, Béjaoui & Delicado, 2017 ** '' Caspiohydrobia'' Starobogatov, 1970 ** '' Chirgisia'' Glöer, Boeters & Pešić, 2014 ** '' Coelacanthia'' Andrusov, 1890 † ** '' Ctyrokya'' Schlickum, 1965 † ** '' Fonscochlea'' Ponder, Hershler & Jenkins, 1989 ** '' Goniochilus'' Sandberger, 1875 † ** '' Gyromelania'' Wenz, 1939 † ** '' Heterocyclus'' Crosse, 1872 ** '' Rifia'' Ghamizi, 2020 ** '' Illyricella'' Neubauer, Mandic & Harzhauser, 2016 † ** '' Intermaria'' Delicado, Pešić & Glöer, 2016 ** '' Iraklimelania'' Willmann, 1981 † ** '' Jekeliella'' Bandel, 2010 † ** '' Kadolskya'' Neubauer & Harzhauser, 2016 † ** '' Kaskakia'' Glöer & Pešić, 2012 ** '' Kerchia'' Bandel, 2010 † ** '' Lisinskia'' Brusina, 1897 † ** '' Littoridinops'' Pilsbry, 1952 ** '' Lutetiella'' Kadolsky, 2015 † ** '' Microbeliscus'' Sandberger, 1875 † ** '' Micromelania'' Brusina, 1874 † ** '' Mikrogoniochilus'' Willmann, 1981 † ** '' Motsametia'' Vinarski, Palatov & Glöer, 2014 ** '' Muellerpalia'' Bandel, 2010 † ** '' Navalis'' Quiñonero-Salgado & Rolán, 2017 ** '' Nematurella'' Sandberger, 1875 † ** '' Neohoratia'' Schütt, 1961 ** '' Nicolaia'' Glöer, Bößneck, Walther & Neiber, 2016 ** '' Odontohydrobia'' Pavlović, 1927 † ** '' Parhydrobia'' Cossmann & Dollfus, 1913 ** '' Persipyrgula'' Delicado, Pešić & Glöer, 2016 ** '' Pontohoratia'' Vinarski, Palatov & Glöer, 2014 ** '' Pontohydrobia'' Badzoshvili, 1979 † ** '' Probythinella'' Thiele, 1928 ** '' Prososthenia'' Neumayr, 1869 † ** '' Pseudamnicola'' Paulucci, 1878 ** '' Pseudocaspia'' Starobogatov, 1972 ** '' Pseudopaludinella'' Mabille, 1877 ** '' Pyrgulella'' Harzhauser, Neubauer & Kadolsky in Harzhauser et al., 2016 † ** '' Rhodopyrgula'' Willmann, 1981 † ** '' Robicia'' Brusina, 1897 † ** '' Saccoia'' Brusina, 1893 † ** '' Salakosia'' Willmann, 1981 † ** '' Salalahia'' Kadolsky, Harzhauser & Neubauer in Harzhauser et al., 2016 † ** '' Sarkhia'' Glöer & Pešić, 2012 ** '' Scalimelania'' Wenz, 1939 † ** '' Sellia'' Raincourt, 1884 ** '' Shadinia'' Akramowski, 1976 ** '' Sivasi'' Şahin, Koca & Yildirim, 2012 ** '' Socenia'' Jekelius, 1944 † ** '' Staja'' Brusina, 1897 † ** '' Stalioa'' Brusina, 1870 † ** '' Staliopsis'' Rzehak, 1893 † ** '' Tefennia'' Schütt & Yildirim, 2003 ** '' Torosia'' Glöer & Georgiev, 2012 ** '' Tournouerina'' Schlickum, 1971 † ** '' Vrazia'' Brusina, 1897 † ** '' Wuconcha'' Kang, 1983 ** '' Xestopyrguloides'' Willmann, 1981 † * Islamiinae Radoman, 1973 ** ''

Alzoniella ''Alzoniella'' is a genus of minute freshwater spring snails, aquatic gastropod mollusks or micromollusks in the family Hydrobiidae. All the species within the snail genus ''Alzoniella'' are crenobiotic, i.e. they are dependent on springs ...

'' Giusti & Bodon, 1984 ** ''

Avenionia ''Avenionia'' is a genus of small freshwater snails with a gill and an operculum, aquatic gastropod mollusk in the family Hydrobiidae Hydrobiidae, commonly known as mud snails, is a large cosmopolitan family of very small freshwater and ...

'' Nicolas, 1882 ** '' Boetersiella'' Arconada & Ramos, 2001 ** '' Chondrobasis'' Arconada & Ramos, 2001 ** '' Corbellaria'' Callot-Girardi & Boeters, 2012 ** '' Fissuria'' Boeters, 1981 ** '' Iberhoratia'' Arconada & Ramos, 2007 ** ''

Islamia ''Islamia'' is a genus of small freshwater snails with a gill and an operculum, aquatic gastropod mollusks in the family Hydrobiidae. MolluscaBase eds. (2021). MolluscaBase. Islamia Radoman, 1973. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Spe ...

'' Radoman, 1973 ** ''

Josefus Josefus was an American rock band from Houston, Texas, United States, who have been credited as "one of the first models for the blunt sound of Texas hard rock and heavy metal." They were also mentioned in an article in ''Classic Rock'' titled ...

'' Arconada & Ramos, 2006 ** '' Milesiana'' Arconada & Ramos, 2006 ** '' Pauluccinella'' Giusti & Pezzoli, 1990 ** '' Spathogyna'' Arconada & Ramos, 2002 * Mercuriinae Boeters & Falkner, 2017 ** ''

Mercuria Mercuria Energy Group Ltd is a Cypriot-domiciled multinational commodity trading company active in a wide spectrum of global energy markets including crude oil and refined petroleum products, natural gas (including LNG), power, biodiesel, base ...

'' Boeters, 1971 * Pseudamnicolinae Radoman, 1977 ** '' Corrosella'' Boeters, 1970 ** '' Diegus'' Delicado, Machordom & Ramos, 2016 ** '' Falniowskia'' Bernasconi, 1991 ** '' Graecamnicola'' Willmann, 1981 † * Pyrgulinae E. von Martens, 1858 ** '' Chilopyrgula'' Brusina, 1896 ** '' Dianella'' Gude, 1913 ** '' Ginaia'' Brusina, 1896 ** '' Laevicaspia'' Dybowski & Grochmalicki, 1917 ** '' Maeotidia'' Andrusov, 1890 † ** '' Marticia'' Brusina, 1897 † ** '' Micropyrgula'' Polinski, 1929 ** '' Neofossarulus'' Poliński, 1929 ** '' Ohridopyrgula'' Radoman, 1983 ** '' Pseudodianella'' Neubauer, Mandic, Harzhauser & Hrvatović, 2013 † ** '' Pyrgohydrobia'' Radoman, 1955 ** '' Pyrgula'' de Cristofori & Jan, 1832 ** '' Stankovicia'' Poliński, 1929 ** '' Trachyochridia'' Poliński, 1929 ** '' Turricaspia'' B. Dybowski & Grochmalicki, 1915 ** '' Xestopyrgula'' Poliński, 1929

Notes

References

External links

* {{taxonbar, from=Q206486 Taxa named by William Stimpson