Chiton

Family Mopalidae

Mopalia

Class Gastropoda

Snails, slugs, abalone, limpets, cowries, and conch)

The taxonomy of the gastropods has been evolving. There were four subclasses, i.e., Prosobranchia; Opisthobranchia; Gymnomorpha; and, Pulmonata. It is my understanding, a non-scientist, this is no longer correct. It now seems to contain only two Subclasses, i.e., Eogastropoda and Orthogastropoda (wikipia.org). In fact, the old subclass Prosobranchia, which was divided into the orders Archaeogastropoda and Mesogastropoda, are now described in the Superorder Caenogastropoda and Neogastropoda, which are all now part of the Subclass Orthogastropoda. If any of the following needs correcting, would appreciate your help.

Subclass Eogastropoda (True limpets and relatives)
Order: Patellogastropoda (Limpets)

Suborder: Lepetopsina
Superfamily Lepetopsoidea
Families Damilinidae; Lepetopsidae; and, Neolepetopsidae

Suborder: Nacellina
Superfamily Acmaeoidea
Family Acmaeidae
Genera Acmaea; Notoacmea; Pectinodonta; and, Problacmaea
Families Lepetidae and Lottiidae

Superfamily Nacelloidea
Family Nacellidae
Genera Macklintockia; Naccula; and, Nacella

Suborder: Patellina
Superfamily Patelloidea
Family Patellidae
Genera Cellana; Helcion; Helioniscus; Patella; and, Rhodopetala

Order: Euomphalina

Superfamily Euomphaloidea
Families Anomphalidae; Euomphalidae; Helicotomidae; Holopeidae; Lesueurillidae; Omphalotrochidae; Planitrochidae; Pseudophoridae; and, Raphistomatidae

Superfamily Macluritoidea
Families Archaeospiridae and Macluritidae

Superfamily Ophiletoidea
Family Ophiletidae

Superfamily Platyceratidea
Family Platyceratidae

Order: Neomphalida

Superfamily Neomphaloidea
Family Neomphalidae
Genera Cyathermia and Neomphalus

Subclass: Orthogastropoda (True snails)
Infraclass Cocculiniformia

Superfamily Cocculinoidea
Family Bathysciadiidae
Genera Bathysciadium and Bonus
Family Cocculinidae
Genera Coccocrater; Coccopigya ; Cocculina; Fedikovella; Macleaniella; and, Paracocculina

Superfamily Lepetelloidea (deep sea limpets)

Superorder: Vetigastropoda (limpets)

Superfamily Fissurelloidea (keyhole limpets)
Family Fisurellidae

Superfamily Haliotoidea (abalones)
Family Haliotidae
Genus Haliotis

Superfamily Lepetodriloidea (hydrothermal vents limpets)

Superfamily Pleurotomarioidea (slit shells)

Superfamily Seguenzioidea

Superfamily Trochoidea (top shells)
Families Trochidae; Stomatellidae; Cyclostrematidae; Turbinidae; and, Phasianellidae

Superorder: Neritopsina
Order: Cyrtoneritimorpha

Families Orthonychiidae and Vitaviellidae

Order: Neritoida

Superfamily Helicinoidea
Family Helicinidae
Subfamily Heliciinae
Genera Alcadia; Bourciera; Helicina; Hemipoma; Lucidella; Ogasawarana; Olygyra; Orobophana; Pleuropoma; Schasicheila; Stoastoma; Stoastomops; and Sturanya
Subfamily Hendersoniinae
Genera Hendersonia and Waldemaria
Subfamily Vianinae
Genera Calidviana; Calybium; Eutrochaetella; Geophorus; Heudeia; Pseudotrochatella; Pyrgodomus and Viana

Superfamily Hydrocenoidea
Family Hydrocenidae
Genera Georissa and Hydrocena

Superfamily Neritoidea
Families Ceresidae; Chilodontidae (Genera Caenotropus and Chilodus); Dawsonellidae; Deianiridae; Neritidae (Subfamily Neritinae - Tribe Neritini - Genera Bathynerita; Nerita - subgenera Adenerita; Amphinerita; Cymostyla; Heminerita; LLynerita; Melanerita; Mienerita; Nerita; Ritena; Theliostyla - Genus Neritina - subgenera Dostia; Neritina; and, Vittina - Genus Turrita; Genus Vitta; Tribe Theodoxini - Genera Clithon; Clypeolum; Fluvinerita; Neripteron; Neritodryas; Puperita; Septaria; Theodoxus; Subfamily Paffrathiinae; Subfamily Smaragdiinae Genera Gaillardotia; Magadis; Pisulina; Smaragdella; Smaragdia; Smaragoista); Neritiliidae (Genera Neritilia and Septariellina); Payettiidae; Phenacolepadidae (Genera Cinnalapeta; Phenacolepas; Plesiothyreus; and, Shinkailepas); Plagiothyridae; Proserpinidae; and, Titiscaniidae (Genus Titiscania)

Superfamily Neritopsidea
Family Neritopsidea
Subfamily Naticopsinae
Genera Damesia; Dicosmos; Frombachia; Jedria; Marmolatella; Naticopsis; Pachyomphalus; Planospirina; Pseudoplagiothyra; and, Vernelia
Subfamily Neritopsinae
Genera Bandelopsis; Byzantia; Dahmeria; Devonoerita; Hungariella; Neritopsis; Neritoptyx; Nuetzelopsis; Praeturbonitella; Trachydomia; Trachyspira; Turbonitella; Wallowiella; and, Weitschatopsis
Family Pseudorthonychiidae

Superfamily Symmetrocapuloidea
Family Symmetrocapulidae

Infraclass: Apogastropoda
Superorder: Caenogastropoda (Cowry, Whelk, Periwinkle) (Mesogastropoda)
Order: Architaenioglossa

Order: Neotaenioglossa

Family Epitoniidae

Order: Sorbeoconcha

Suborders: Discopoda and Murchisoniina

Suborder: Hypsogastropoda
Infraorder Littorinimorpha
Superfamily Calyptraeoidea
Families Calyptraeidae and Isospiridae

Superfamily Capuloidea
Families Capulidae and Trichotropidae

Superfamily Carinarioidea
Families Atlantidae; Carinariidae; Pterosomatidae; and, Pterotracheidae

Superfamily Cingulopsoidea
Families Cingulopsidae; Eatoniellidae; and, Rastodentidae

Superfamily Cypraeoidea (cowries)
Family Cypraeidae
Subfamily Cypraeinae
Genus Cypraea
Families Inviidae and Ovulidae

Superfamily Ficoidea
Families Ficidae and Thalassocyonidae

Superfamily Laubierinoidea
Families Laubierinidae and Pisanianuridae

Superfamily Littorinoidea (periwinkles)
Family Aciculidae
Genera Abchasohela; Acicula; Caziotia; Hyalacme; Kainarella; Menkia; Platyla; Pleuracme; and, Renea
Family Littorinidae
Genus Littorina
(and) Families Pickworthiidae; Pomatiasidae; Purpurinidae; Skeneopsidae; and, Zerotulidae

Superfamily Naticoidae
Family Ampullinidae
Family Naticidae
Genera Natica; Polinices; and, Tectonatica

Superfamily Rissooidea (risso shells)
Family Architectonicidae
Genera Architectonica; Heliacus; and, Philippia
Families Adeorbidae; Anabathridae; Assimineidae;
Family Barleeidae
Genera Amphithalamus; Barleysnail; Caelatura; Lirobarleeia; and, Pseudodiala
Families Bithyniidae; Caecidae; Calopiidae; Elachisinidae; Emblandidae; Epigridae; Falsicingulidae;
Family Hydrobiidae
Genus Tryonia
Families Hydrococcidae; Iravadiidae; Istrianidae; Pomatiopsidae; Rissoidae; Sadlerianidae; Stenothyridae; Tornidae; Truncatellidae; and, Vitrinellidae

Superfamily Stromboidea (true conchs)
Families Aporrhaidae; Colombellinidae; Pugnellidae; Seraphidae
Family Stombidae
Genera Lambis; Strombus; Terebellum; Tibia; and, Varicospira
Families Struthiolariidae; Thersiteidae; and, Zitteliidae

Superfamily Tonnoidea
Families Bursidae; Cassidae; Perissityidae; Personidae; Ranellidae; and, Tonnidae

Superfamily Trivioidea

Superfamily Vanikoraidea
Families Haloceratidae; Hipponicidae; and, Vanikoridae

Superfamily Velutinoidea
Families Pediculariidae; Pseudosacculidae; Triviidae; and, Velutinidae

Superfamily Vermetoidea
Family Velutinidae

Superfamily Xenophoroidea
Families Guttudidae; Lamelliphoridae; and, Xenophoridae

Infraorder: Neogastropoda

Superfamily Buccinoidea (whelks, false tritions)
Families Buccinidae; Columbellidae; Costellariidae; Cystiscidae; Fasciolariidae; Harpidae; Marginellidae; Melongenidae; Mitridae; Nassariidae; Olividae; Pseudolividae; Turbinellidae

Superfamily Cancellarioidea
Families Cancellariidae and Paladmetidae

Superfamily Conoidea
Families Clavatulidae; Conidae (Genera Asprella and Conus); Drilliidae; Pseudomelatomidae; Speightiidae; Strictispiridae; Terebridae (Genera Duplicaria; Hastula; Myurella; Pervicacia; Terebra; and, Terenolla); and, Turridae

Superfamily Muricoidea
Families Muricidae and Coralliophilidae

Superfamily Volutoidea
Families Volutidae and Volutomitridae

Infraorder: Ptenoglossa

Superfamilies Eulimoidea; Janthinoidea; and, Triphoroidea
Family Epitoniidae

Suborder: Discopoda
Superfamilies Campaniloidea and Cerithioidea

Superorder: Heterobranchia
Order: Heterostropha

Superfamily Pyramidelloidea
Family Pyramidellidae
Subfamily Pyramidellinae

Order: Opisthobranchia (Slugs)

Suborder: Cephalaspidea (headshield slugs)
Superfamily Acteonoidea
Family Acteonidae
Genera Acteon; Callostracon; Crenilabrum; Inopinodon; Japonacteon; Liocarenus; Lissacteon; Maxacteon; Microglyphis; Mysouffa; Neactaeonina; Obrussena; Ovulacteon; Pseudacteon; Punctacteon; Pupa; Rictaxis; Tenuiacteon; and, Tomlinula
Family Bullinidae
Genus Bullina
Family Hydatinidae
Genera Hydatina; Micromelo; and, Parvaplustrum

Superfamily Bulloidea
Family Bullidae
Genus Bullina

Superfamily Diaphanoidea
Family Diaphanidae
Subfamily Diaphaninae
Genera Diaphana: Austrodiaphana; Colpodaspis; Colobocephalus; Rhinodiaphana; Newnesia; and, Woodbridgea
Subfamily Toledoninae
Genera Toledonia; Bogasonia; and, Notodiaphana
Family Notodiaphanidae
Genus Notodiaphana

Superfamily Haminoeoidea
Family Haminoeidae
Genera Aliculastrum; Atys; Cylichnium; Diniatys; Haloa; Haminoea; Hamineobulla; Liloa; Limulatys; Micratys; Mimatys; Nipponatys; Sericohaminoea; Sphaeratys; Ventomnestia; and, Weinkauffia
Family Bullactidae
Genus Bullacta
Family Smaragdinellidae
Genera Phanerophthalmus and Smaragdinella

Superfamily Philinoidea
Family Aglajidae
Genera Aglaja; Chelidonura; Melanochlamys; Navanax; Odontoglaja; and, Philinopsis Families Cylichnidae; Gastropteridae; Philinidae; Philinoglossidae; Plusculidae; Retusidae; Tornatinidae; and, Volvulidae

Suborder: Architectibranchia
Superfamily Ringiculoidea
Family Bullinidae (Also found in Superfamily Actronoidea)
Genus Bullina
Family Hydatinidae (Also found in Superfamily Actronoidea)
Genera Hydatina; Micromelo; and, Parvaplustrum
Family Ringiculidae

Suborder: Gymnosomata (sea angels)
Family Clionidae
Genera Anthosigmella; Cervicornia; Clione; Clionina; Fowlerina; Paedoclione; Paraclione; Pione; Thalassopterus; and, Volzia
Family Cliopsidae
Genera Cliopsis and Pruvotella
Family Hermaeidae
Family Hydromylidae
Genus Hydromyles
Family Laginiopsidae
Genus Laginiopsis
Family Notobranchaeidae
Genus Notobranchaea
Family Pneumoderma
Genera Pneumoderma; Pneumodermopsis; Schizobrachium; Spongiobranchaea; Abranchaea; and, Platybrachium
Family Thiliptodontidae
Genera Thliptodon; Cephalobrachia; and, Massya

Suborder: Notaspidea (sidegill slugs)
Superfamilies Pleurobranchoidea and Tylodinoidea

Suborder: Sacoglossa (sap-sucking slugs)
Families Bosellidae; Caliphyllidae; Costasiellidae; Elysiidae; Juliidae; Limapontidae; Oleidae; Oxynoidae; Stiligeridae; and, Volvatellidae

Suborder: Anaspidea (Sea Hares)
Superfamily Akeroidea
Family Akeridae
Genera Anderssonia and Akera

Superfamily Aplysioidea
Family Aplysiidae
Genera Aplysia; Bursatella; Dolabella; Dolabrifera; Notarchus; Petalifera; Phyllaplysia; Syphonota; and, Stylochelus

Suborder: Thecosomata (sea butterflies)
Infraorder: Euthecosomata
Superfamily Limacinoidea
Family Limacinidae
Genus Limacina

Superfamily Cavolinioidea
Family Cavoliniidae
Genera Cavolinia; Diacavolina; and, Diacria
Family Clioidae
Genus Clio
Family Creseidae
Genera Creseis; Hyalocylis; and, Styliola
Family Cuvierinidae
Family Praecuvierinidae
Genera Praecuvierina and Texacuvierina

Infraorder: Pseudothecosomata

Superfamily Peraclidoidea
Family Peraclididae
Genus Peracle

Superfamily Cymbulioidea
Family Cymbuliidae
Genera Corolla; Cymbulia; and, Gleba
Family Desmopteridae
Genus Desmopterus

Suborder: Nudibranchia (nudibranchs)
Infraorder: Anthobranchia
Superfamily Doridoidea
Family Dorididae
Genera Alliodoris; Anisodoris; Archidoris; Artachaea; Austrodoris; Doridium; Doris; and, Siraius
Family Hexabranchidae
Genus Hexabranchus

Superfamily Doridoxoidea
Families Bathydorididae and Doridoxidae

Superfamily Onchidoridoidea
Families Aegiretidae; Corambidae; Fucolidae; Goniodorididae; Gymnodorididae; Onchidorididae; Triphidae; and, Vayssiereidae

Superfamily Polyceroidea
Family Polyceridae

Infraorder: Cladobranchia

Superfamily Aeolidioidea
Family Flabellinidae
Genus Flabellina
Family Glaucidae
Genera Antonietta; Austraeolis; Babakina; Bajaeolis; Caloria; Cratena; Dicata; Dondice; Facelina; Facelinopsis; Favorinus; Glaucilla; Glaucus; Godiva; Hermissenda; Herosita; Herviella; Jason; Learchis; Moridilla; Nanuca; Pauleo; Phidiana; Phyllodesmium; Piseinotecus; Pruvotfolia; Pteraeolidia; Sakuraeolis; and, Setoeolis

Superfamily Arminoidea
Families Arminidae and Heterodorididae

Superfamily Dendronotoidea
Families Bornellidae; Dendronotidae; Dotoidae; Embletoniidae; Hancockiidae; Lomanotidae; Marianinidae; Phylliroidae; Scyllaeidae; Tethydidae; and, Tritoniidae

Superfamily Metarminoidea
Families Charcotiidae; Dironidae; Goniaeolididae; Heroidae; Madrellidae; Metarminidae; and, Zephyrinidae

Order: Pulmonata
(freshwater snails and slugs that developed lungs)

Suborders: Systellommatophora; Basommatophor; and, Eupulmonata

Subclass: Orthogastropoda (True Snails)
Superorder: Vetigastropoda
Superfamily Fissurelloidea

Family Fisurellidae (Keyhole Limpets)

Very similar to Chitons as they also have a conical half-shell appearance, except this species has a small opening in the center top portion of its shell. Basically herbivores and small in size, i.e., about an inch or much less (5 mm - 2.5 cm). Often arrive on live rock and can be quite useful in controlling microalgae and diatom blooms.

Diodora

Fissurella

Megathura

Superfamily Haliotoidea (Abalones)

Family Haliotidae (Abalone)

This family contains only one genus. Members, who are generally called 'Abalone,' have large ear-shaped shells with a spiral at the apex. The inner side of the shell has a mother-of-pearl layer, which is sometimes used in the jewelry business. They are grazers and cling to rocks with a large muscular foot, and can crawl if necessary. Found in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans.

Haliotis

Superorder: Neritopsina
Order: Neritoida
Superfamily Neritoidea

Family Neritidae

Nerita

Many of these small rounded herbivorous snails often crawl out of the aquarium, as they are more an intertidal species than a reef species. And if forced to live submerged all the time, they probably won't last a year. Even though they are fairly good at trimming algae, which includes diatoms, microalgae, filamentous, and cyanobacteria, they should only be considered supplementary consumers, as they really don't compare to what Astraea snails can accomplish. An excellent identification source for the wide variety of these snails is the following website: www.capricornica.com.

Puperite

Vittina

Superorder: Vetigastropoda
Superfamily Trochoidea (Top Shells)

Family Trochidae

Two of the snails mentioned below are recently showing up in the tropical aquarium trade, however, in my opinion they do not fair well in warm-water aquaria as they are a 'cool' water species. Buyer beware. As for the Trochus, it's a good alga consumer, however, can get quite large.

Norrisia

Margarites

Trochus

Family Turbinidae

Astraea

This family probably contains the most useful of all snail species. And I must say I was among the first hobbyists to utilize the Turbo species in aquaria, as I started bringing them back from trips to Mexico in the early 1980's. When I found them doing such a good job in controlling unwanted algae, I mentioned this to a person who owned a local aquarium shop. He began collecting them himself in Mexico and began selling them as Turbo-Grazers. From there the use of snails in aquaria blossomed, and now includes many other useful species.

Turbo

Family Stomatellidae

Genus Stomatella

Superorder Caenogastropoda
(Cowry, Whelk, Periwinkle)
Order: Sorbeoconcha
Superfamily Rissooidea

Family Architectonicidae

The below mentioned species feeds upon zoanthid colonies and should be removed if seen in the reef aquarium.

Heliacus

Superfamily Tonnoidea

Family Cassidae (Helmet Shells)

These snails not only get large, they are predators and are not suited for aquariums. In fact, they generally are sold as shell souvenirs.

Cypraecassis

Infraorder: Neogastropoda
Suborder: Discopoda
Superfamily Cerithioidea

Family Cerithiidae

Fairly new to the aquarium trade and also quite useful as they are very good herbivores, especially for controlling diatoms and microalgae, however, not filamentous algae. They also feed on detritus and help aerate the sandbed. Yet hermit crabs may attack them for their shells.

Cerithium

Infraorder: Neogastropoda
Superfamily Muricoidea
Subfamily Rapaninae

Family Coralliophilidae

The below mentioned species feeds upon soft corals and should be removed if seen in the aquarium.

Rapa

Suborder: Hypsogastropoda
Infraorder: Littorinimorpha
Superfamily Tonnoidea

Family Ranellidae (Tritons)

This family contains a predator snail (Cymatium muricinum) that feeds upon clams. It's important to recognize this pest and remove it when seen.

Cymatium

Infraclass: Apogastropoda
Superorder: Caenogastropoda
Order: Sorbeoconcha
Infraorder Littorinimorpha
Superfamily Cypraeoidea

Family Cypraeidae (Cowries)

These are pretty snails, however, mostly carnivorous creatures, and even the few herbivorous specimens tend to get too large for most aquariums. Most specimens feed on corals, sponges, colonial anemones, and ascidians.

Cypraea

Family Ovulidae

Closely related to cowries, yet totally unacceptable for use in reef aquaria as they feed upon corals and gorgonia.

Cyphoma

Primovula

Superfamily Stromboidea

Family Strombidae

There are two herbivores in the Genus Strombus that interest some aquarists.

Lambis

Strombus

Infraorder: Neogastropoda
Suborder: Discopoda
Superfamily Cerithioidea

Family Vermetidae

Members in this family live in worm-like tubes and do not move around like other snails. They secrete a slime that is trailed out into the water in order to catch suspended matter. Their tubes have exceeded 10 inches (25 cm) in my aquariums. Harmless and usually seen in reef aquariums with live rock.

Vermetus

Infraorder Neogastropoda
Superfamily Buccinoidea

Family Buccinidae

Members in this family are called "Whelks" and most are predatory and have no use in reef or fish-only aquariums.

Pusiostoma (Engina)

Family Columbellidae

Euplica

Superfamily Conoidea

Family Conidae (Cones)

These cone-shaped snails are carnivorous and venomous creatures, and must be handled with extreme care, or preferably not handled at all! They feed on a variety of bottom dwelling animals including worms, clams, other snails, and resting fishes!

Conus

Infraorder: Ptenoglossa

Family Epitoniidae (Wentletraps)

Another predator of corals, specifically Tubastrea coral.

Epitonium

Superfamily Eulimoidea

Family Eulimidae

This family, which may or may not be in this order, contains a parasitic snail, Thyca crystallina that infests the species Linckia laevigata, or what is generally called the Blue Linckia starfish. These starfish should be thoroughly inspected for this parasite before placing it in the aquarium.

Thyca

Infraorder Neogastropoda
Superfamily Buccinoidea

Family Fasciolariidae (Tulip Snails)

A family of carnivorous snails that feed upon worms, small fishes, clams, and/or dead organic matter. Not suited for most aquaria.

Fasciolaria

Opeatostoma

Superfamily Muricoidea

Family Muricidae

These snails have ornate shells and are capable of boring into other shell-protected animals such as Tridacnid clams. In other words they are snails that eat other snails and clams. Not something for the reef aquarium! They do so by secreting an acid that dissolves the calcium carbonate of the protecting shell and then consume the soft tissue inside.

Chicoreus

Hexaplex

Murex

Superfamily Buccinoidea

Family Nassariidae

These small "Whelk" snails, about 0.5 inch (1 cm) live buried in sand and emerge to eat foods high in protein, such as excess meaty fish foods and/or dead or dying animals. They do not consume algae and should not exceed a few per square foot of sandbed surface. Also, they should not be kept in aquariums with hermit crabs, as they may be eaten by hermits.

Cyclope

Nassarius

Superorder Heterobranchia
Order: Heterostropha
Superfamily Pyramidelloidea
Subfamily Pyramidellinae

Family Pyramidellidae

This small white, one eight of an inch (1 - 2 mm), cone-shaped snails feed upon Tridacna clams. It can multiply quickly at a very small size, and in large numbers can be a serious threat to any clams in the aquarium. Typically, they can be found along the clams upper edges where the mantle overhangs, especially during nighttime feeding time frames. During the daytime, they may be either located at the foot area, or tucked away along the ridges on the shell.

Pyramidellida

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