Rhaphischismatidae

Rhaphischismatidae is an extinct family of fossil sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the superorder Vetigastropoda.^[1] 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.^[2]

Rhaphischismatidae Temporal range: Late Carboniferous–Mississippian PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Gastropoda
Subclass:	Vetigastropoda
Order:	Pleurotomariida
Superfamily:	Pleurotomarioidea
Genus:	†Rhaphischismatidae J.B. Knight, 1956

Genera

Raphischisma^[2] 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.