''Mitra'' is a large

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

of medium to large

predatory Predation is a biological interaction in which one organism, the predator, kills and eats another organism, its prey. It is one of a family of common feeding behaviours that includes parasitism and micropredation (which usually do not kill ...

sea snail Sea snails are slow-moving marine (ocean), marine gastropod Mollusca, molluscs, usually with visible external shells, such as whelk or abalone. They share the Taxonomic classification, taxonomic class Gastropoda with slugs, which are distinguishe ...

s, marine

gastropod Gastropods (), commonly known as slugs and snails, belong to a large Taxonomy (biology), taxonomic class of invertebrates within the phylum Mollusca called Gastropoda (). This class comprises snails and slugs from saltwater, freshwater, and fro ...

mollusk Mollusca is a phylum of protostomic invertebrate animals, whose members are known as molluscs or mollusks (). Around 76,000 extant species of molluscs are recognized, making it the second-largest animal phylum after Arthropoda. The ...

s in the

family Family (from ) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictabili ...

Mitridae Mitridae, known as mitres or mitre shells, are a Taxonomy (biology), taxonomic family (biology), family of sea snails, widely distributed marine (ocean), marine gastropod molluscs in the clade Mitroidea. Both the Latin name and the common name a ...

, the miter shells or mitre snails. This genus is named after the ecclesiastical headgear, the

miter The mitre (Commonwealth English) or miter (American English; see spelling differences; both pronounced ; ) is a type of headgear now known as the traditional, ceremonial headdress of bishops and certain abbots in traditional Christianity. Mi ...

, because of the shells' general shape. These sea snails create shells that are considered attractive by shell collectors; the shells are solid, high-

spire A spire is a tall, slender, pointed structure on top of a roof of a building or tower, especially at the summit of church steeples. A spire may have a square, circular, or polygonal plan, with a roughly conical or pyramidal shape. Spire ...

d and are often colorful.

Description

The thick shell has a fusiform shape. The

is elevated and acute at the

apex The apex is the highest point of something. The word may also refer to: Arts and media Fictional entities * Apex (comics) A-Bomb Abomination Absorbing Man Abraxas Abyss Abyss is the name of two characters appearing in Ameri ...

. The

aperture In optics, the aperture of an optical system (including a system consisting of a single lens) is the hole or opening that primarily limits light propagated through the system. More specifically, the entrance pupil as the front side image o ...

is small, narrow and notched in front. The

columella Lucius Junius Moderatus Columella (, Arabic: ) was a prominent Roman writer on agriculture in the Roman Empire. His in twelve volumes has been completely preserved and forms an important source on Roman agriculture and ancient Roman cuisin ...

is obliquely plicate. The outer

lip The lips are a horizontal pair of soft appendages attached to the jaws and are the most visible part of the mouth of many animals, including humans. Mammal lips are soft, movable and serve to facilitate the ingestion of food (e.g. sucklin ...

is thickene and is smooth internally.

Species

Many species that were previously in the genus ''Mitra'' have been reassigned in the past years to other genera, including '' Calcimitra'', ''

Gemmulimitra ''Gemmulimitra'' is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Mitridae. Species Species within the genus ''Gemmulimitra'' include: * '' Gemmulimitra aliciae'' (Poppe, Tagaro & R. Salisbury, 2009) * '' Gemmulimitra apprima ...

'', '' Isara'', ''

Nebularia ''Nebularia'' is a genus of predatory sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the subfamily Cylindromitrinae within the family of Mitridae. This name was originally proposed as a subgenus of the genus ''Mitra''. The type species of this genus ...

'', '' Neotiara'', ''

Pseudonebularia ''Pseudonebularia'' is a genus of sea snails, marine (ocean), marine gastropod mollusks in the subfamily Mitrinae of the family (biology), family Mitridae. Species Species within the genus ''Pseudonebularia'' include: * ''Pseudonebularia atjehe ...

'', ''

Quasimitra ''Quasimitra'' is a genus of sea snails, marine (ocean), marine gastropod mollusks in the subfamily Mitrinae of the family (biology), family Mitridae. Species Species within the genus ''Quasimitra'' include: * ''Quasimitra albocarnea'' (Bozzett ...

'', '' Roseomitra'', ''

Strigatella ''Strigatella'' is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the subfamily Strigatellinae of the family Mitridae. Species Species within the genus ''Strigatella'' include: * '' Strigatella abacophora'' (Melvill, 1888) * '' Strigatel ...

'' and ''

Vexillum The ''vexillum'' (; : ''vexilla'') was a flag-like object used as a War flag, military standard by units in the Roman army. A common ''vexillum'' displayed imagery of the Aquila (Roman), Roman ''aquila'' on a reddish backdrop. Use in Roman arm ...

''. According to the

World Register of Marine Species The World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) is a taxonomic database that aims to provide an authoritative and comprehensive catalogue and list of names of marine organisms. Content The content of the registry is edited and maintained by scien ...

, the following species with accepted names are currently included within the genus ''Mitra'': Species in this genus also include: * '' Mitra brasiliensis'' Oliveira, 1869 * '' Mitra saldanha'' Matthews & Rios, 1970 ;Taxa inquirenda: * ''Mitra clara'' G. B. Sowerby II, 1874 * ''Mitra fergusoni'' G. B. Sowerby II, 1874 Sowerby, G. B. II. (1874). Monograph of the genus Mitra. In G. B. Sowerby II (ed.), Thesaurus conchyliorum, or monographs of genera of shells. Vol. 4 (31-32): 1–46, pls 352–379
/ref> * ''Mitra minor'' G. B. Sowerby II, 1874 * ''Mitra nasuta'' G. B. Sowerby II, 1874 * ''Mitra novaehollandiae'' G. B. Sowerby II, 1874 * ''Mitra radula'' G. B. Sowerby II, 1874 * ''Mitra semiconica'' G. B. Sowerby II, 1874 * ''Mitra subrostrata'' G. B. Sowerby II, 1874 * ''Mitra tenuilirata'' G. B. Sowerby II, 1874 * ''Mitra trunculus'' G. B. Sowerby II, 1874 * ''Mitra umbonata'' G. B. Sowerby II, 1870

Synonyms

* ''Mitra acutilirata'' G. B. Sowerby II, 1874: synonym of '' Subcancilla annulata'' (Reeve, 1844) * ''Mitra albozonata'' W. H. Turton, 1932: synonym of '' Quasimitra latruncularia'' (Reeve, 1844) * ''Mitra ansulata'' G. B. Sowerby II, 1874: synonym of '' Vexillum histrio'' (Reeve, 1844) * ''Mitra arctata'' G. B. Sowerby II, 1874: synonym of '' Pterygia arctata'' (G. B. Sowerby II, 1874) * ''Mitra arracanensis'' G. B. Sowerby II, 1874: synonym of '' Vexillum cithara'' (Reeve, 1845) * ''Mitra articulata'' Reeve, 1845: synonym of '' Vexillum articulatum'' (Reeve, 1845) * ''Mitra aubryana'' Hervier, 1897: synonym of ''

Vexillum fortiplicatum ''Vexillum fortiplicatum'' is a species of small sea snail, marine gastropod mollusk in the family Costellariidae, the ribbed miters. Description The length of the shell varies between 8 mm and 12 mm. The shell is light chestnut, bas ...

'' (Pease, 1868) * ''Mitra australis'' Swainson, 1820: synonym of '' Turriplicifer australis'' (Swainson, 1820) * ''Mitra bifasciata'' Swainson, 1822: synonym of ''

Vexillum caffrum ''Vexillum caffrum'' is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk, in the family Costellariidae, the ribbed miters.MolluscaBase (2018). ''Vexillum caffrum'' (Linnaeus, 1758). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: http:// ...

'' (Linnaeus, 1758) * ''Mitra cernica'' G. B. Sowerby II, 1874: synonym of '' Thala cernica'' (G. B. Sowerby II, 1874) * ''Mitra cineracea'' Reeve, 1845: synonym of ''

Vexillum leucozonias The ''vexillum'' (; : ''vexilla'') was a flag-like object used as a military standard by units in the Roman army. A common ''vexillum'' displayed imagery of the Roman ''aquila'' on a reddish backdrop. Use in Roman army The word ''vexillum' ...

'' (Deshayes, 1833) * ''Mitra crassicostata'' G. B. Sowerby II, 1874: synonym of '' Strigatella crassicostata'' (G. B. Sowerby II, 1874) * ''Mitra cretacea'' G. B. Sowerby II, 1874: synonym of '' Nebularia pellisserpentis'' (Reeve, 1844) * ''Mitra filistriata'' G. B. Sowerby II, 1874: synonym of ''

Vexillum filistriatum The ''vexillum'' (; : ''vexilla'') was a flag-like object used as a military standard by units in the Roman army. A common ''vexillum'' displayed imagery of the Roman ''aquila'' on a reddish backdrop. Use in Roman army The word ''vexillum' ...

'' (G. B. Sowerby II, 1874) * ''Mitra foveata'' G. B. Sowerby II, 1874: synonym of '' Mitromica foveata'' (G. B. Sowerby II, 1874) * † ''Mitra fusioides'' Lea, 1833: synonym of '' Conomitra fusoides'' (I. Lea, 1833) * ''Mitra gemmata'' G. B. Sowerby II, 187: synonym of ''

Atlantilux gemmata ''Atlantilux'' is a genus of sea snails, marine (ocean), marine gastropod mollusks, in the family (biology), family Costellariidae, the ribbed miters.MolluscaBase (2018). ''Atlantilux'' Huang, 2015. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Spec ...

'' (G. B. Sowerby II, 1874) * ''Mitra granata'' Reeve, 1845: synonym of '' Nebularia pellisserpentis'' (Reeve, 1844) * ''Mitra grelloisi'' Récluz, 1853: synonym of '' Nebularia pellisserpentis'' (Reeve, 1844) * ''Mitra indentata'' G. B. Sowerby II, 1874 : synonym of '' Pseudonebularia indentata'' (G. B. Sowerby II, 1874) * ''Mitra inermis'' Reeve, 1845: synonym of ''

Vexillum inerme ''Vexillum inerme'' is a species of small sea snail, marine gastropod mollusk in the family Costellariidae, the ribbed miters. Description The length of the shell attains 28 mm. (Original description) The oblong shell is ovate. It is long ...

'' (Reeve, 1845) * ''Mitra infrafasciata'' Souverbie, 1865: synonym of ''

Pusia microzonias ''Pusia microzonias'' is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk, in the family Costellariidae, the ribbed miters.MolluscaBase (2018). ''Pusia microzonias'' (Lamarck, 1811). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: http: ...

'' (Lamarck, 1811) * ''Mitra insolata'' G. B. Sowerby II, 1874: synonym of '' Episcomitra cornicula'' (Linnaeus, 1758) * ''Mitra laevicostata'' G. B. Sowerby II, 1874: synonym of ''

Vexillum intertaeniatum ''Vexillum intertaeniatum'' is a species of small sea snail, marine gastropod mollusk in the family Costellariidae, the ribbed miters. Description The length of the shell varies between 12 mm and 17 mm. (Described as ''Turricula pulchra'') Th ...

'' (G. B. Sowerby II, 1874) * ''Mitra laterculata'' G. B. Sowerby II, 1874: synonym of '' Nodicostellaria laterculata'' (G. B. Sowerby II, 1874) * ''Mitra latruncularia'' Reeve, 1844 synonym of '' Quasimitra latruncularia'' (Reeve, 1844) * ''Mitra longispira'' G. B. Sowerby II, 1874: synonym of '' Vexillum longispira'' (G. B. Sowerby II, 1874) * ''Mitra lurida'' W. H. Turton, 1932: synonym of ''

Vexillum patulum ''Vexillum patulum'', common name the wide-mouth mitre, is a species of small sea snail, marine gastropod mollusk in the family Costellariidae, the ribbed miters. Description The length of the shell attains 18 mm. (Original description) The o ...

'' (Reeve, 1845) * ''Mitra macandrewi'' G. B. Sowerby II, 1874: synonym of '' Vexillum macandrewi'' (G. B. Sowerby II, 1874) * † ''Mitra marginata'' Lamarck, 1803: synonym of † '' Conomitra marginata'' (Lamarck, 1803) * ''Mitra mauritiana'' G. B. Sowerby II, 1874: synonym of ''

Quasimitra lacunosa ''Quasimitra lacunosa'' is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Mitridae, the miters or miter snails. Description (Described as ''Mitra mauritiana'') This shell resembles Reeve's ''Mitra lacunosa'', but it is regula ...

'' (Reeve, 1844) * ''Mitra microstoma'' G. B. Sowerby II, 1874: synonym of '' Nebularia pellisserpentis'' (Reeve, 1844) * ''Mitra militaris'' Reeve, 1845: synonym of ''

Vexillum militare The ''vexillum'' (; : ''vexilla'') was a flag-like object used as a military standard by units in the Roman army. A common ''vexillum'' displayed imagery of the Roman ''aquila'' on a reddish backdrop. Use in Roman army The word ''vexillum' ...

'' (Reeve, 1845) * ''Mitra multisulcata'' G. B. Sowerby III, 1914: synonym of '' Strigatella subruppelli'' (Finlay, 1927) * ''Mitra muricata'' (Broderip, 1836): synonym of '' Neotiara muricata'' (Broderip, 1836) * ''Mitra obtusispinosa'' G. B. Sowerby II, 1874: synonym of '' Vexillum obtusispinosum'' (G. B. Sowerby II, 1874) * ''Mitra oniscina'' Lamarck, 1811: synonym of ''

Vexillum oniscinum The ''vexillum'' (; : ''vexilla'') was a flag-like object used as a War flag, military standard by units in the Roman army. A common ''vexillum'' displayed imagery of the Aquila (Roman), Roman ''aquila'' on a reddish backdrop. Use in Roman arm ...

'' (Lamarck, 1811) * ''Mitra paligera'' G. B. Sowerby II, 1874: synonym of '' Vexillum paligerum'' (G. B. Sowerby II, 1874) * ''Mitra petrosa'' G. B. Sowerby II, 1874: synonym of ''

Nebularia petrosa ''Nebularia petrosa'' is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk, in the family Mitridae, the miters or miter snails.MolluscaBase (2018). ''Nebularia petrosa'' (G. B. Sowerby II, 1874). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Speci ...

'' (G. B. Sowerby II, 1874) * ''Mitra philippinarum'' A. Adams, 1853: synonym of '' Imbricaria bacillum'' (Lamarck, 1811) * ''Mitra rectilateralis'' G. B. Sowerby II, 1874: synonym of ''

Vexillum suluense The ''vexillum'' (; : ''vexilla'') was a flag-like object used as a military standard by units in the Roman army. A common ''vexillum'' displayed imagery of the Roman ''aquila'' on a reddish backdrop. Use in Roman army The word ''vexillum' ...

'' (A. Adams & Reeve, 1850) * ''Mitra rhodia'' Reeve, 1845: synonym of '' Isara carbonaria'' (Swainson, 1822) * ''Mitra salmonea'' G. B. Sowerby II, 1874: synonym of '' Vexillum salmoneum'' (G. B. Sowerby II, 1874) * ''Mitra simplex'' G. B. Sowerby II, 1874: synonym of '' Episcomitra cornicula'' (Linnaeus, 1758) * ''Mitra sphaerulata'' Martyn, 1784: synonym of '' Neocancilla papilio'' (Link, 1807) * ''Mitra subtruncata'' G. B. Sowerby II, 1874: synonym of '' Vexillum subtruncatum'' (G. B. Sowerby II, 1874) * ''Mitra tayloriana'' G. B. Sowerby II, 1874: synonym of ''

Vexillum taylorianum The ''vexillum'' (; : ''vexilla'') was a flag-like object used as a military standard by units in the Roman army. A common ''vexillum'' displayed imagery of the Roman ''aquila'' on a reddish backdrop. Use in Roman army The word ''vexillum' ...

'' (G. B. Sowerby II, 1874) * ''Mitra telum'' G. B. Sowerby II, 1874: synonym of '' Strigatella fulvescens'' (Broderip, 1836) * ''Mitra tenuis'' G. B. Sowerby II, 1874: synonym of '' Carinomitra typha'' (Reeve, 1845) * ''Mitra umbrosa'' G. B. Sowerby II, 1874: synonym of '' Vexillum umbrosum'' (G. B. Sowerby II, 1874) * ''Mitra uzielliana'' Crosse, 1861: synonym of '' Nebularia pellisserpentis'' (Reeve, 1844) * ''Mitra variabilis'' Reeve, 1844: synonym of '' Quasimitra variabilis'' (Reeve, 1844) * ''Mitra vezzaronellyae'' Cossignani, 2016: synonym of '' Nebularia peasei'' (Dohrn, 1860) * ''Mitra zonalis'' Quoy & Gaimard, 1833: synonym of ''

'' (Linnaeus, 1758)

Gallery

File:Mitra stictica Link, 1807 (4901879112).jpg, '' Mitra stictica'' shell

References

External links

Fedosov A., Puillandre N., Herrmann M., Kantor Yu., Oliverio M., Dgebuadze P., Modica M.V. & Bouchet P. (2018). The collapse of Mitra: molecular systematics and morphology of the Mitridae (Gastropoda: Neogastropoda). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 183(2): 253-337
{{Taxonbar, from=Q3317141 Mitridae Gastropod genera