Rhaphischismatidae
| Rhaphischismatidae Temporal range: L Carb (Miss) | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Superorder: | Vetigastropoda[1] |
| Superfamily: | Pleurotomarioidea |
| Family: | Rhaphischismatidae J.B. Knight, 1956 |
Rhaphischismatidae is an extinct family of fossil sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the superorder Vetigastropoda.[2] They date from the Lower Carboniferous (Mississippian). The family contains a single genus, Raphischisma. In the Bouchet & Rocroi, 2005), this family is assigned to the Pleurotomariacea.[3]
Genera
Raphischisma[3] is the only known genus. Its description is that of the family.
Description
Rhaphycasma is characterized by a discoidal shell with a rounded periphery, depressed spire, umbilical callus formed by the inward extension of the lower aperture lip, and a deep, narrow slit, that extends along the upper surface, near the upper suture. The unique features of the lower lip generate an umbilical callus and deep, long, exhalent slit on the upper side along with the generally smooth form. These shell characters set this genus, and family, apart from other gastropods in the same superfamily.
References
- ↑ Man and Mollusc, Gastropoda
- ↑ Vetigastropoda Paleodb
- 1 2 Treatise on Invertebrate Paleontology Part I, R.C. Moore (ed) Geol Soc of America and Univ. Kansas Press, 1960.