Mud Shells of the Nassariidae Family

Two Mud Shells of the Nassariidae Family can be found in this website:

Phylogeny: Mud Shells of the Nassariidae Family gastropod mollusks in the order Neogastropoda. Neogastropods are characterized by having a long siphonal canal, a well developed siphonal notch,  and a specialized radula. Many species in this order have a narrow aperture. Neogastropods are primarily marine snails and most of the well-known shell families are in this order. The Nassariidae Family is in the superfamily Buccinoidea, which is one of seven superfamilies in this order. Superfamily Buccinoidea consists of twenty families. The Nassariidae Family is large and consists of eight subfamilies, twenty-eight genera, and around five hundred ninety-one species. Mud Shells are also commonly known as Basket Shells, Dog Whelks, and Nassarids.

Description: Mud Shells are small to medium-sized, strongly built, shells.  They have relatively large body whorls and high spires. The exterior of their shells may be smooth or sculpted with axial or spiral ridges. Some species are sculpted with cancellate (crisscrossing) ridges affording a basket-weave appearance. This is what gives them the common name Basket Shells. They have oval apertures and small siphon canals. The inner and outer lips of the aperture are often marked with a series of  small ridges. The inner lip often forms a large, smooth, shiny surface (callus). They lack an umbilicus. They have a small operculum, relative to the size of the shell, which is corneous. Most tend to have subdued coloration. The largest species in this family reach 5 cm (1.9 inches) in length.

Habitat and Distribution: Mud Shells are found on mud and sand substrates, from the intertidal zone to depths up to 1,525 m (5,000 feet). They are found worldwide in tropical to temperate seas. At least twenty-five species can be found in Mexican waters.

Natural History: Most Mud Shells are scavengers that feed on carrion and detritus. Some others are predators, consuming bivalves and gastropods, and others are herbivorous grazers that feed on algae. The scavengers often form large groups when consuming dead crabs or fish. Chemoreceptors in their siphons efficiently lead them to carrion. In turn they are preyed upon by shorebirds, crabs, fish, sea stars, and predatory mollusks.  They are gonochoric and reproduce sexually with internal fertilization. The eggs are laid in protective capsules. Mud Shells of the Nassariidae Family are edible and are harvested by artisanal fisheries.