Pupilloidea is a superfamily of small and very small air-breathing land snails, terrestrial gastropods in the infraorder Pupilloidei.

They are diverse in morphology, habitat, and ecological roles.

Description

They are characterized by their small, often cylindrical, ovate, or elongate shells. Their shells can range from smooth to ribbed or striated. They are generally tiny, ranging from a few millimeters to about a centimeter in length. The aperture often has denticles (teeth) or lamellae, which may play roles in predator deterrence or structural support. The margin of the aperture often features a well-defined peristome, sometimes thickened or reflected.

Distribution

Species in this superfamily are cosmopolitan, found on every continent except Antarctica. They can be found in dry and arid regions to temperate forests and even tropical zones.

Taxonomy

This superfamily contains the following families:

• Achatinellidae Gulick, 1873

• Agardhiellidae Harl & Páll-Gergely, 2017

• Amastridae Pilsbry, 1910

• Argnidae Hudec, 1965

• Cerastidae Wenz, 1923

• Cochlicopidae Pilsbry, 1900 (1879)

• Draparnaudiidae Solem, 1962

• Enidae B. B. Woodward, 1903 (1880)

• Fauxulidae Harl & Páll-Gergely, 2017

• Gastrocoptidae Pilsbry, 1918

• Hypselostomatidae Zilch, 1959

• Lauriidae Steenberg, 1925

• Odontocycladidae Hausdorf, 1996

• Orculidae Pilsbry, 1918

• Pagodulinidae Pilsbry, 1924

• Partulidae Pilsbry, 1900

• Pleurodiscidae Wenz, 1923

• Pupillidae W. Turton, 1831

• Pyramidulidae Kennard & B. B. Woodward, 1914

• Spelaeoconchidae A. J. Wagner, 1928

• Spelaeodiscidae Steenberg, 1925

• Strobilopsidae Wenz, 1915

• Valloniidae Morse, 1864

• Vertiginidae Fitzinger, 1833

Synonyms

• Cerastuidae Wenz, 1930: synonym of Cerastidae Wenz, 1923

• Chondrulidae A. J. Wagner, 1928: synonym of Chondrulini Wenz, 1923 (junior synonym)

• Cionellidae L. Pfeiffer, 1879: synonym of Cochlicopidae Pilsbry, 1900 (1879)

• Elasmiatidae Kuroda & Habe, 1949: synonym of Elasmiatini Kuroda & Habe, 1949 (original rank)

• Family Pachnodidae Steenberg, 1925: synonym of Cerastidae Wenz, 1923

• Pupidae J. Fleming, 1822: synonym of Cerionidae Pilsbry, 1901 (invalid: type genus a junior homonym of Pupa Röding, 1798 [Acteonidae])

• Pupisomatidae Iredale, 1940: synonym of Valloniidae Morse, 1864

• Pupoididae Iredale, 1939: synonym of Pupillidae W. Turton, 1831

• Strobilidae Jooss, 1911: synonym of Strobilopsidae Wenz, 1915 (invalid: type genus a junior homonym of Strobila M. Sars, 1829 [Cnidaria])

• Tornatellinidae Sykes, 1900: synonym of Tornatellininae Sykes, 1900 (original rank)

• Zuidae Bourguignat, 1884: synonym of Cochlicopidae Pilsbry, 1900 (1879)

References

Further reading

• Bouchet P., Rocroi J.P., Hausdorf B., Kaim A., Kano Y., Nützel A., Parkhaev P., Schrödl M. & Strong E.E. (2017). Revised classification, nomenclator and typification of gastropod and monoplacophoran families. Malacologia. 61(1–2): 1-526

External links

• Harl J., Haring E., Asami T., Sittenthaler M., Sattmann H. & Páll-Gergely B. (2017). Molecular systematics of the land snail family Orculidae reveal paraphyly and deep splits within the clade Orthurethra (Gastropoda: Pulmonata). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 181(4): 778-794

• Saadi, A. J.; Mordan, P. B.; Wade, C. M. (2021). Molecular phylogeny of the Orthurethra (Panpulmonata: Stylommatophora). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society.