Family PULSELLIDAE
Compiler and date details
Kevin L. Lamprell, Queensland Museum, Brisbane, Australia John M. Healy, Center for Marine Studies, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
Introduction
In this recently erected family, the rachidian tooth has a single median cusp (Steiner 1992). The shells are typically small (less than 10 mm) and smooth (rarely longitudinally striate), and the aperture is not contracted (compare with Gadilidae).
Australia has two extant species of Pulsellum and one fossil species, Pulsellum adelaidense Ludbrook, from the Dry Creek Sands Upper Pliocene of South Australia (Ludbrook 1956). A single extant species of the genus Compressidens (shell aperture slightly dorso-ventrally compressed compared with round in Pulsellum) is also present in the fauna.
Shells of the Australian species of Pulsellidae are smooth (apically striate in Pulsellum eboracense) with oblique growth lines and no apertural contraction.
General References
Lamprell, K.L. & Healy, J.M. 1998. A revision of the Scaphopoda from Australian waters (Mollusca). Records of the Australian Museum Suppl. 24: 1-189
Ludbrook, N.H. 1956. The molluscan fauna of the Pliocene strata underlying the Adelaide Plains. Part III — Scaphopoda, Polyplacophora, Gastropoda (Haliotidae to Tornidae). Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia 79: 1-36 pls 1-2
Steiner, G. 1992. Phylogeny and classification of Scaphopoda. Journal of Molluscan Studies 58: 385-400
History of changes
| Published | As part of group | Action Date | Action Type | Compiler(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12-Feb-2010 | (import) |