Naticidae

{{Short description|Family of gastropods}} {{Automatic taxobox | fossil_range = {{fossil range|late Triassic|Recent|late Triassic or early Jurassic – Recent<ref name=Huelsken2008 />}} | image = Natica_hebraea.jpg | image_caption = A live individual of ''Naticarius hebraeus'' (Martyn, 1786), viewed from the front | taxon = Naticidae | authority = Guilding, 1834 | synonyms_ref = | synonyms = | type_genus = ''Pseudomelatoma'' | type_genus_authority = Dall, 1918 | subdivision_ranks = Genera | subdivision = See text | diversity_link = | diversity_ref = <ref name=Huelsken2008 /> | diversity = 260–270 Recent species }}

'''Naticidae''', common name '''moon snails''' or '''necklace shells''', is a family of medium to large-sized predatory sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the clade Littorinimorpha. The shells of the species in this family are mostly globular in shape.

Naticidae is the only family in the superfamily '''Naticoidea'''.

It has been estimated that worldwide there are about 260–270 recent species of naticid snails.<ref name=Huelsken2008 /> This group is assumed to have originated in the late Triassic or in the early Jurassic.<ref name=Huelsken2008 /> Members of this family can be recognized by the shape of their shells, distinct appearance, or by their predatory behaviour.<ref name=Huelsken2008 />

==Distribution== Naticids are widely distributed and occur worldwide and are considered to be a delicate part of the web of nature amongst many others. The greatest diversity of both species and genera is found in tropical regions. Even so, naticid snails are also plentiful in temperate, Arctic and Antarctic waters.<ref name="Huelsken2008">{{cite journal|last=Huelsken|first=T.|author2=Marek, C |author3=Schreiber, S |author4=Schmidt, I |author5= Hollmann, M. |title=The Naticidae (Mollusca: Gastropoda) of Giglio Island (Tuscany, Italy): Shell characters, live animals, and a molecular analysis of egg masses |journal=Zootaxa|year=2008|volume=1770|pages=1–40|url=http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/2008/f/zt01770p040.pdf|access-date=7 June 2010|publisher=Magnolia Press|doi=10.11646/zootaxa.1770.1.1|issn=1175-5334|doi-access=free}}</ref>

==Habitat== Moon snails live on sandy substrates, at a great variety of depths depending on the species (from the intertidal zone to thousands of meters in depth).<ref name=Huelsken2008 /> They are often seen ploughing along in the sand, searching for bivalves and other prey, resulting in countersunk bore-holes.

==Life habits== [[File:Divaricella quadrisulcata showing Naticid predation holes.jpg|thumb|''Divaricella quadrisulcata'' showing Naticid predation holes]] Naticids are predatory, feeding mostly on bivalves. They will also attack almost any other shelled mollusk they encounter in the sand, such as scaphopods and other gastropods, including other moon snails.<ref name=Huelsken2008 /> Additionally, ''Conuber sordidum'' was shown to prey on the soldier crab ''Mictyris longicarpus'' (Crustacea) by drilling predation.<ref name="Cameron">{{cite journal |author=Ann M. Cameron |year=1966 |title=Some aspects of the behaviour of the soldier crab, ''Mictyris longicarpus'' |journal=Pacific Science |volume=20 |issue=2 |pages=224–234 |hdl=10125/7754}}</ref><ref name="Huelsken2011">Huelsken, T. (2011) First evidence of drilling predation by Conuber sordidus (Swainson, 1821) (Gastropoda: Naticidae) on soldier crabs (Crustacea: Mictyridae). Molluscan Research, 31(2), 125-131. [http://www.mapress.com/mr/content/v31/2011f/n2p132.pdf]</ref> To catch soldier crabs, ''C. sordidum'' uses the same behaviour as when hunting shelled molluscan prey.<ref name="Huelsken2011" />

The moon snail envelops the prey and then bores a perfect hole through the shell using its radula and an acid secretion. Once the shell is bored open, the proboscis is used to consume the soft body tissues of the prey as a liquid mass.

The hole in the shell, which has a "countersunk" appearance with chamfered edges, and which varies in size according to the species, is a characteristic sign of moon snail predation.

===Sand collars=== [[File:Sand collar from Neverita josephinia (cropped).jpg|thumb|Sand collar and shell of ''Neverita josephinia''; Mediterranean Sea]] In the breeding season, the female moon snail lays a rather stiff egg mass which includes sand and mucus. These objects wash up on sandy beaches fairly often, and are known by the common name "'''sand collars'''" because of their resemblance to an old-fashioned removable shirt collar or false-collar, especially when intact. These egg masses are characteristic of the moon snails, being unique to this family.<ref>Bandel, K. (1999) On the origin of the carnivorous gastropod group Naticoidea (Mollusca) in the Cretaceous with description of some convergent but unrelated groups. Greifswalder Geowissenschaftliche Beiträge, 6, 134-175</ref>{{Verify source|date=August 2025}} The sand collar consists of sand grains cemented together by a gelatinous matrix, with the embedded eggs contained within the matrix. The collar is laid by the female moon snail, and the size of the sand collar gives an indication of the size of the adult female moon snail that laid it; larger species of moon snail lay larger sand collars.

A fresh sand collar feels stiff and yet flexible, as if it were made out of plastic. Each sand collar contains thousands of capsules, each one housing one or several live embryos. In species with planktonic development, these embryos hatch out as bilobed veligers. After the eggs hatch, the sand collar disintegrates. Sand collars are often found washed up either whole or fragmented on sandy beaches where moon snails inhabit, either intertidally or subtidally.<ref>[http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/2008/f/zt01770p040.pdf Huelsken T. ''et al.'' (2008)] The ''Naticidae'' (Mollusca: Gastropoda) of Isola del Giglio (Tuscany, Italy): Shell characters, live animals, and a molecular analysis of egg masses. Zootaxa, 1770, 1-40.</ref>{{Verify source|date=August 2025}}

==Human interactions== In Korean cuisine, moon snails are called ''golbaengi'' ({{lang|ko|골뱅이}}) and eaten as ''golbaengi-muchim'' (moon snail salad).<ref name="NIKL">{{Cite web|url=http://www.korean.go.kr/common/download.do?file_path=notice&c_file_name=140730_%ED%95%9C%EC%8B%9D%EB%AA%85_%EB%A1%9C%EB%A7%88%EC%9E%90_%ED%91%9C%EA%B8%B0_%EB%B0%8F_%ED%91%9C%EC%A4%80_%EB%B2%88%EC%97%AD_%ED%99%95%EC%A0%95%EC%95%88_.pdf&o_file_name=140730_%ED%95%9C%EC%8B%9D%EB%AA%85_%EB%A1%9C%EB%A7%88%EC%9E%90_%ED%91%9C%EA%B8%B0_%EB%B0%8F_%ED%91%9C%EC%A4%80_%EB%B2%88%EC%97%AD_%ED%99%95%EC%A0%95%EC%95%88_.pdf|title=주요 한식명(200개) 로마자 표기 및 번역(영, 중, 일) 표준안|last=National Institute of Korean Language|date=30 July 2014|language=ko}} *{{cite press release |date=2014-05-02 |script-title=ko:주요 한식명 로마자 표기 및 표준 번역 확정안 공지 |url=http://www.korean.go.kr/front/board/boardStandardView.do?board_id=4&mn_id=17&b_seq=1465 |website=National Institute of Korean Language |language=ko}}</ref>

Moon snail shells are attractive and relatively large, and often popular in jewellery and ornamentation.

== Taxonomy ==

=== Traditional classification === Some authors have suggested a distinct separation of the Naticidae into four subfamilies: Ampullospirinae, Naticinae, Polinicinae and Sininae.<ref>Kabat A.R. 1991. The classification of the Naticidae (Mollusca: Gastropoda): Review and analysis of the supraspecific taxa. Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., 152, 417-449.</ref> This arrangement is mainly based on morphological data, such as details of the operculum including the material (calcareous in the Naticinae, corneous in the Polinicinae and Sininae) and size, and also the morphology of the shell.<ref>Cernohorsky W.O. 1971. ''The family Naticidae (Mollusca: Gastropoda) in the Fiji Islands''. Auckland Inst. Mus., 8, 169-208.</ref><ref name="Marincovich" >Marincovich L.N. 1977. ''Cenozoic Naticidae (Mollusca: Gastropoda) of the Northeastern Pacific''. Bulletins of American Paleontology, 70, 169-212.</ref><ref>Bandel K. 1999. ''On the origin of the carnivorous gastropod group Naticoidea (Mollusca) in the Cretaceous with description of some convergent but unrelated groups''. Greifswalder Geowissenschaftliche Beiträge, 6, 134-175.</ref>

=== 2005 taxonomy === The following four subfamilies were recognized in the taxonomy of Bouchet & Rocroi (2005):<ref name="Bouchet">{{Bouchet 2005}}</ref>

* Naticinae Guilding, 1834 - synonyms: Neveritinae Gray, 1857; Choristidae Verrill, 1882; Euspiridae Cossmann, 1907; Mammillinae Iredale & McMichael, 1962; Eunaticinini Oyama, 1469 * Sininae Woodring, 1928 - synonyms: Sigaretidae Gary, 1827; Cryptostomidae Gray, 1827 * Globisininae Powell, 1933 * Polinicinae Gray, 1847

== Genera == Genera in the family Naticidae include: {{Columns-list| ;Unassigned to a subfamily: * † ''Amauropsina'' Chelot, 1885 * † ''Amauropsona'' H. J. Finlay & Marwick, 1937 * † ''Austrocochlis'' H. J. Finlay & Marwick, 1937 * ''Benthobulbus'' J. H. McLean, 1995 * † ''Carinacca'' Marwick, 1924 * † ''Cepatia'' J. E. Gray, 1842 * † ''Darwinices'' Griffin & Pastorino, 2013 * ''Laguncula'' W. H. Benson, 1842 * † ''Magnatica'' Marwick, 1924 * † ''Maxwellinatica'' Beu & B. A. Marshall, 2011 * † ''Nanggulania'' K. Martin, 1914 * † ''Pliconacca'' K. Martin, 1914 * † ''Polinella'' Marwick, 1931

;Subfamily Naticidae incertae sedis (temporary name) * ''Haliotinella'' Souverbie, 1875 * ''Microlinices'' Simone, 2014

;subfamily Naticinae * ''Cochlis'' Röding, 1798 * ''Cryptonatica'' Dall, 1892 * ''Glyphepithema'' Rehder, 1943 * ''Lunaia'' Berry, 1964: synonym of ''Natica'' Scopoli, 1777 * ''Natica'' Scopoli, 1777 * ''Naticarius'' Duméril, 1806<ref name="Huelskenetal2011">Huelsken, T., Wägele, H., Peters, B., Mather, A., Hollmann, M. (2011) Molecular analysis of adults and egg masses reveals two independent lineages within the infaunal gastropod ''Naticarius onca'' (Röding, 1798) (Caenogastropoda: Naticidae). Molluscan Research, 31(3), 141-151. [http://www.mapress.com/mr/content/v31/2011f/n3p151.pdf '''PDF''']</ref> * ''Notocochlis'' Powell, 1933 * ''Paratectonatica'' Azuma, 1961 * ''Proxiuber'' Powell, 1933 * ''Stigmaulax'' Mörch, 1852 * ''Tanea'' Marwick, 1931 * † ''Taniella'' Finlay & Marwick, 1937 * ''Tasmatica'' Finlay & Marwick, 1937 * ''Tectonatica'' Sacco, 1890

;subfamily Globisininae * ''Falsilunatia'' Powell, 1951 * ''Globisinum'' Marwick, 1924 }} ;subfamily Polinicinae Gray, 1847 * ''Amauropsis'' Mörch, 1857 * ''Bulbus'' Brown, 1839 * ''Conuber'' Finlay & Marwick, 1937 * ''Euspira'' Agassiz in Sowerby, 1838 * ''Friginatica'' Hedley, 1916 * ''Glossaulax'' Pilsbry, 1929 * ''Hypterita'' Woodring, 1957 * ''Kerguelenatica'' Powell, 1951 * ''Mammilla'' Schumacher, 1817 * ''Neverita'' Risso, 1826: its subgenus or synonym includes ''Glossaulax'' Pilsbry, 1929<ref name= "Marincovich" /><ref>Majima, R. 1989. Cenozoic fossil Naticidae (Mollusca: Gastropoda) in Japan. Bulletins of American Paleontology, 96 (331), 1-159.</ref><ref name="Huelskenetal2006">Huelsken T. et al. 2006. [http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/2006f/zt01257p025.pdf ''Neverita delessertiana (Recluz in Chenu, 1843): a naticid species (Gastropoda: Caenogastropoda) distinct from Neverita duplicata (Say, 1822) based on molecular data, morphological characters, and geographical distribution'']. Zootaxa, 1257:1-25.</ref> * ''Polinices'' Montfort, 1810<ref name="Huelskenetal2012">Huelsken, T., Tapken, D., Dahlmann, T., Wägele, H., Riginos, C., Hollmann, M. (2012). Systematics and phylogenetic species delimitation within Polinices s.l. (Caenogastropoda: Naticidae) based on molecular data and shell morphology. Organisms Diversity & Evolution. doi:10.1007/s13127-012-0111-5.</ref> * ''Pseudopolinices'' Golikov & Sirenko, 1983 * ''Sinuber'' Powell, 1951 * † ''Tahunacca'' P. A. Maxwell, 1992 * ''Uberella'' Finlay, 1928

;Subfamily Sininae Woodring, 1928 * ''Calinaticina'' J. Q. Burch & Campbell, 1963 * ''Eunaticina'' Fischer, 1885 * ''Gennaeosinum'' Iredale, 1929 * ''Payraudeautia'' Bucquoy, Dautzenberg & Dollfus, 1883: (uncertain > taxon inquirendum, treated by some as synonym of ''Euspira'') * † ''Sigaretotrema'' Sacco, 1890 * ''Sigatica'' O. Meyer & Aldrich, 1886 * ''Sinum'' Röding, 1798

subfamily ? * † ''Gyrodes'' Conrad, 1860: belongs to the family †Gyrodidae Conrad, 1860 * ''Spironema'' Meek, 1864<ref name="Siemers 1974">Siemers C. T. & King N. R. (1974). "Macroinvertebrate paleoecology of a transgressive marine sandstone, Cliff House Sandstone (Upper Cretaceous), Chaco Canyon, northwestern New Mexico" [http://nmgs.nmt.edu/publications/guidebooks/downloads/25/25_p0267_p0277.pdf PDF].</ref> - notin WoRMS.

==Synonyms== {{Split|Polinices|Sinum|Natica | date = August 2025 | discuss = Talk:Naticidae#Synonyms list | section = yes }} * ''Acrybia'' Adams, 1853: synonym of ''Bulbus'' T. Brown, 1839 * ''Albula'' Röding, 1798: synonym of ''Polinices'' Montfort, 1810 (Invalid: junior homonym of ''Albula'' Osbeck, 1762 [Pisces]) * ''Aloconatica'' Shikama, 1971: synonym of ''Stigmaulax'' Mörch, 1852 * ''Boreonatica'' A. N. Golikov & Kussakin, 1974: synonym of ''Cryptonatica'' Dall, 1892 (junior objective synonym of ''Cryptonatica'') * ''Catinus'' Oken, 1835: synonym of ''Sinum'' Röding, 1798 * ''Cryptostoma'': synonym of ''Cryptostomus'' Blainville, 1818: synonym of ''Sinum'' Röding, 1798 (incorrect subsequent spelling of Cryptostomus)* ''Choristes'' P. P. Carpenter, 1872: synonym of ''Amauropsis'' Mörch, 1857 * ''Cryptostomus'' Blainville, 1818: synonym of ''Sinum'' Röding, 1798 * ''Ectosinum'' Iredale, 1931: synonym of ''Sinum'' Röding, 1798 * ''Eucaryum'' Ehrenberg, 1831: synonym of ''Polinices'' Montfort, 1810 * ''Eunatica'' Melvill, 1899: synonym of ''Natica (Eunatica)'' Melvill, 1899: synonym of ''Natica'' Scopoli, 1777 (unaccepted rank) * † ''Labellinacca'' Cossmann, 1919: synonym of ''Euspira'' Agassiz, 1837 * ''Lunaia'' S. S. Berry, 1964: synonym of ''Natica'' Scopoli, 1777 * ''Lunatia'' Gray, 1847: synonym of ''Euspira'' Agassiz, 1837 (junior subjective synonym) * ''Heliconatica'' Dall, 1924: synonym of ''Eunaticina'' P. Fischer, 1885 * ''Mamilla'': synonym of ''Mammilla'' Schumacher, 1817 (incorrect spelling of generic name) * ''Mamillaria'' Swainson, 1840: synonym of ''Polinices'' Montfort, 1810 * ''Mamma'' H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853: synonym of ''Polinices'' Montfort, 1810 (junior synonym) * ''Mammillaria'' Herrmannsen, 1847: synonym of ''Mamillaria'' Swainson, 1840: synonym of ''Polinices'' Montfort, 1810 (Unjustified emendation) * ''Nacca'' Risso, 1826: synonym of ''Natica'' Scopoli, 1777 * ''Naticarinus'' [sic]: synonym of ''Naticarius'' Duméril, 1805 (misspelling - incorrect subsequent spelling) * ''Naticella'' Swainson, 1840: synonym of ''Polinices'' Montfort, 1810 * ''Naticina'' Guilding, 1834: synonym of ''Polinices'' Montfort, 1810 (junior subjective synonym) * ''Naticina'' J. E. Gray, 1847: synonym of ''Eunaticina'' P. Fischer, 1885 (junior homonym, Invalid: junior homonym of Naticina Guilding, 1834; Eunaticina P. Fischer, 1885 is a replacement name) * ''Naticus'' Montfort, 1810: synonym of ''Naticarius'' Duméril, 1805 * ''Pervisinum'' Iredale, 1931: synonym of ''Eunaticina'' P. Fischer, 1885 * ''Polynices'' Herrmannsen, 1847: synonym of ''Polinices'' Montfort, 1810 (Invalid: unjustified emendation of Polinices) * ''Pristinacca'' H. J. Finlay & Marwick, 1937: synonym of † ''Taniella'' H. J. Finlay & Marwick, 1937 (junior subjective synonym) * ''Propesinum'' Iredale, 1924: synonym of ''Eunaticina'' P. Fischer, 1885 * ''Quantonatica'' Iredale, 1936: synonym of ''Naticarius'' Duméril, 1805 * ''Ruma'' Gray, 1847: synonym of ''Mammilla'' Schumacher, 1817 * ''Sigaretus'' Lamarck, 1799: synonym of ''Sinum'' Röding, 1798 (unaccepted > junior subjective synonym) * † ''Sulconacca'' Marwick, 1924: synonym of ''Friginatica'' Hedley, 1916 (junior subjective synonym) * ''Uber'' R. A. Philippi, 1853: synonym of ''Polinices'' Montfort, 1810

==Gallery== <gallery style="text-align:center;" mode="packed"> Image:Mammilla melanostoma (1).JPG|''Mammilla melanostoma'' File:Moon Snail.jpg|''Naticarius orientalis''; north coast of East Timor Image:Euspira lewisii 3.jpg|''Neverita lewisii'' Image:Tanea undulata (Moon Snail).jpg|''Tanea undulata'' Image:Tectonatica violacea.JPG|''Tectonatica violacea'' Image:Eunaticina nitida 003.jpg|''Eunaticina nitida'' Image:Euspira nitida-Nl.jpg|''Euspira nitida'' Image:Mammilla sebae 01.JPG|''Mammilla sebae'' Image:Natica hebraea 01.JPG|''Natica hebraea'' Image:Naticarius onca 01.JPG|''Naticarius onca'' Image:Neverita josephinia 01.JPG|''Neverita josephinia'' File:Notocochlis gualteriana.JPG|''Notocochlis gualteriana'' Image:Notocochlis tigrina 02.JPG|''Notocochlis tigrina'' Image:Polinices tumidus 01.JPG|''Polinices mammilla'' Image:Sinum cymba 01.JPG|''Sinum cymba'' Image:Tasmatica schoutanica 001.jpg|''Tasmatica schoutanica'' File:SeaSnails.ogv|50-second video of snails (most likely ''Natica chemnitzi'' and ''Cerithium muscarum'') feeding on the sea floor in the Gulf of California, Puerto Peñasco, Mexico. File:Naticid borehole Calvert.jpg|Naticid boring in ''Stewartia'' from the Calvert Formation, Zone 10, Calvert Co., MD (Miocene). File:Naticarius millepunctatus Pliocene Cyprus.jpg|Fossil ''Naticarius millepunctatus''; Nicosia Formation, Pliocene, Cyprus

</gallery>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==Further reading== * Powell A. W. B. 1979. ''New Zealand Mollusca'', William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand {{ISBN|0-00-216906-1}} * Ponder W. & Lindberg D. 1997. ''Towards a phylogeny of gastropod molluscs; an analysis using morphological characters''. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 119: 83-265, London, {{ISSN|0024-4082}}. *{{Cite web|url=http://www.gsajournals.org/perlserv/?request=get-static&name=i0091-7613-31-6-e34&ct=1|title=Mystery of naticid predation history solved: Evidence from a "living fossil" species: COMMENT|access-date=2008-06-14|publisher=Geological Society of America- online|author=Aronowsky A.|year=2003|work=pp E34}} * Colgan D.J. et al. 2007. ''Molecular phylogenetics of Caenogastropoda (Gastropoda: Mollusca)''. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 42, 717-37. * Torigoe K. & Inaba A. (2011) ''Revision on the classification of Recent Naticidae.'' Bulletin of the Nishinomiya Shell Museum 7: 133 + 15 pp., 4 pls.

== External links == {{Commons category|Naticidae}} {{Commons category|Sand collars}} * [https://archive.today/20130106172641/http://www.somali.asso.fr/clemam/biotaxis.php?T=NATICOIDEA CLEMAM - Taxonomic Database on European Marine Mollusca] of the Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle and the Department of Systematics & Evolution, Paris. * [https://web.archive.org/web/20160303220111/http://morphobank.geongrid.org/index.php?g=search&s=browse&ss=project_detail&browse_project_id=189 The Naticidae of Giglio Island] at Morphobank - Homology of phenotypes over the web * [http://www.malacolog.org/wasp.php?mode=taxon&target=Naticidae Malacolog 4.1.0] - A Database of Western Atlantic Marine Mollusca * {{ITIS |id=72878 |taxon=Naticidae}} * [http://www.naturamediterraneo.eu/forum/default.asp?CAT_ID=13 Naturamediterraneo] - Mediterranean fauna and flora * [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/search/all/?term=Naticidae Publications and sequences] of the Naticidae submitted to the NCBI * [https://pubs.usgs.gov/pp/0642/report.pdf Miocene Gastropods and Biostratigraphy of the Kern River Area, California; United States Geological Survey Professional Paper 642] {{PD-notice}}

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Naticidae

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