Columbellidae


The Columbellidae, the dove snails or dove shells, are a family of small sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the order Neogastropoda.
These snails are characterized by their elongated, spiral shells and their carnivorous feeding habits. The family Columbellidae comprises numerous genera and species, many of which share similar shell morphologies and ecological niches.

Distribution

Species in this family are found worldwide, but are most abundant in shallow tropical water.

Subfamilies

According to the taxonomy of the Gastropoda by Bouchet & Rocroi (2005), the family Columbellidae consists of two subfamilies:

Genera

The family Columbellidae contains these genera:
;subfamily Atiliinae
;subfamily Columbellinae

Synonyms

Atilia H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853 - type genus of the subfamily Atiliinae: synonym of Anachis H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853Columbellopsis Bucquoy, Dautzenberg and Dollfus, 1882: synonym of Mitrella Risso, 1826Minipyrene Coomans, 1967: synonym of Mitromorpha P. P. Carpenter, 1865