Cantharus (gastropod)

Cantharus is a genus of marine gastropod molluscs in the family Pisaniidae.^[1][2] Members of the genus are medium-sized sea snails characterised by solid, often ovate shells with a short siphonal canal.

Cantharus
Shell of Cantharus bolivianus (syntype at MNHN, Paris)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Gastropoda
Subclass:	Caenogastropoda
Order:	Neogastropoda
Family:	Pisaniidae
Genus:	Cantharus Röding, 1798[1]
Type species
Buccinum tranquebaricum Gmelin, 1791
Synonyms[2]
Tritonidea (Cantharus) Röding, 1798 †Zeapollia Finlay, 1926

Taxonomy

The genus was introduced by Röding in 1798 for species then placed in Buccinum by Gmelin.^[1] Historically, Cantharus has been associated with several different families, including Fasciolariidae,Tryon, G. W. (1880). Manual of Conchology, vol. IV. Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia. pp. 174–176. but modern authors consistently place it in Pisaniidae.^[2] Some workers divide the genus into subgenera on the basis of shell sculpture and aperture morphology, though these are not universally accepted.^[2] An extinct genus, Zeapollia Finlay, 1926, is now considered a synonym.^[2]

Description

Shells of Cantharus are typically thick, ovate-conical, and range from 20 to 60 mm in adult size. They often have strong spiral cords and axial ribs, producing a cancellate sculpture in some species. The aperture is oval with a thickened outer lip; the siphonal canal is short and slightly recurved. Coloration is variable, with patterns of brown, yellow, or white, sometimes banded.Vaught, K.C. (1989). A classification of the living Mollusca. American Malacologists, Melbourne FL. p. 40.

Distribution and habitat

Species of Cantharus occur in tropical and subtropical seas worldwide. Most are recorded from the Indo-Pacific region, particularly the Indian Ocean and western Pacific, while a few species are found in the western Atlantic. They inhabit shallow to moderately deep marine environments, usually on sandy or muddy substrates near reefs or rocky shores."MolluscaBase eds. (2025). Cantharus Röding, 1798". World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 4 September 2025.

Ecology

Like other members of Pisaniidae, Cantharus species are carnivorous or scavenging snails. They feed on small invertebrates, carrion, or organic detritus using a siphon to detect prey. Egg capsules are deposited on hard substrates; development is planktotrophic in most known species.Taylor, J.D. (1976). "Dietary habits of predatory prosobranchs". Journal of Molluscan Studies. 42: 201–210.

Species

As of 2020^[update], the World Register of Marine Species accepts 14 extant and 1 extinct species in the genus Cantharus:^[2]

• †Cantharus acuticingulatus (Suter, 1917)
• Cantharus berryi McLean, 1970
• Cantharus bolivianus (Souleyet, 1852)
• Cantharus cecillei (Philippi, 1844)
• Cantharus erythrostoma (Reeve, 1846)
• Cantharus leucotaeniatus Kosuge, 1985
• Cantharus melanostoma (G.B. Sowerby I, 1825)
• Cantharus petwayae Poppe, Tagaro & Goto, 2018
• Cantharus rehderi Berry, 1962
• Cantharus salalahensis Cossignani, 2017
• Cantharus septemcostatus Vermeij & Bouchet, 1998
• Cantharus spiralis Gray, 1839
• Cantharus tranquebaricus (Gmelin, 1791)
• Cantharus vermeiji Fraussen, 2008
• Cantharus vezzarochristofei Cossignani, 2017

Cantharus elegans (Griffith & Pidgeon, 1834) is present in some databases,^[3] but not the World Register of Marine Species.^[2] Cantharus porcatus H. Adams & A. Adams, 1864 is listed as a taxon inquirendum in WoRMS.^[2]