Ellobiidae, common name the hollow-shelled snails, is a family of small air-breathing land snails, terrestrialpulmonate gastropod mollusks in the clade Eupulmonata. Ellobiidae is the only family in the superfamily Ellobioidea, according to the taxonomy of the Gastropoda by Bouchet & Rocroi, 2005).
Anatomy
In this family, the number of haploid chromosomes lies between 16 and 20. They have a distinctive mode of locomotion arising due to a split sole. The front part of the sole adheres to the substrate and then the rear part of the sole is drawn up to the front part.
Taxonomy
Species are traditionally classified into five taxonomic groups, the Pythiidae, the Laemodontidae, the Melampodidae, the Ellobiidae and the Carychiidae. These taxa have been recognized either as families within Ellobioidea or as sub-families within the family Ellobiidae. The family Ellobiidae consists of the following subfamilies :
The high degree of homoplasy in morphological characters and frequent low variability has led to the description of approximately 800 species names available in the literature, of which 250 are likely to be valid. A molecular study by Dayrat at al. for the Ellobioidea suggests a monophyletic origin of the entire group.
Genera
Genera within the family Ellobiidae include: subfamily Ellobiinae
Alexia Leach in Gray, 1847: synonym of Myosotella Monterosato, 1906
Auricula Lamarck, 1799: synonym of Ellobium Röding, 1798
Cremnobates Swainson, 1855: synonym of Marinula King & Broderip, 1832
Jaminia T. Brown, 1827: synonym of Myosotella Monterosato, 1906
Kochia Pallary, 1900: synonym of Myosotella Monterosato, 1906
Laimodonta H. Adams & A. Adams, 1855: synonym of Laemodonta Philippi, 1846
Leuconia Gray, 1840: synonym of Auriculinella Tausch, 1886
Leucopepla Peile, 1926: synonym of Auriculinella Tausch, 1886
LeucophytiaWinckworth, 1949: synonym of Auriculinella Tausch, 1886
Monica H. Adams & A. Adams, 1855: synonym of Ovatella Bivona-Bernardi, 1832
Nealexia Wenz, 1920: synonym of Myosotella Monterosato, 1906
Phytia: synonym of Pythia Röding, 1798
Pira H. & A. Adams, 1855: synonym of Melampus Montfort, 1810
Plecotrema H. Adams & A. Adams, 1854: synonym of Laemodonta Philippi, 1846
Rangitotoa Powell, 1933: synonym of Microtralia Dall, 1894
;Taxonomic note: Genus Sarnia H. Adams & A. Adams, 1855
Ecology
The taxon Ellobioidea comprises a group of morphologically and ecologically highly diverse snails, known to have successfully invaded the marine, brackish water and terrestrial habitats. These are mostly snails that live in salt marshes and similar maritime habitats, and thus have a tolerance for saline conditions.
