Synaptocochlea

Synaptocochlea is a genus of very small sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Trochidae, the top snails.^[2]

Synaptocochlea
Drawing of a shell of Synaptocochlea picta
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Gastropoda
Subclass:	Vetigastropoda
Order:	Trochida
Superfamily:	Trochoidea
Family:	Trochidae
Subfamily:	Fossarininae
Genus:	Synaptocochlea Pilsbry, 1890[1]
Type species
Stomatella montrouzieri Pilsbry, 1890
Synonyms
Stomatella (Synaptocochlea) Pilsbry, 1890

Description

The oval shell is intermediate between Stomatella and Gena in contour. The very short spire is sub-marginal. The surface is spirally striated or decussated. The very large aperture is longer than it is wide. The animal has an operculum.^[3]

Distribution

This marine genus occurs in the tropical Indo-West Pacific, Indo-Malaysia, Oceania and off Australia (Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia)

Species

Species within the genus Synaptocochlea include:

• Synaptocochlea asperulata (A. Adams, 1850)
• Synaptocochlea belmonti Simone, 2009^[4]
• Synaptocochlea caliginosa H. & A. Adams, 1863
• Synaptocochlea concinna (Gould, 1845)
• Synaptocochlea granosa (Lambert, 1874)
• Synaptocochlea montrouzieri (Pilsbry, 1890)
• Synaptocochlea picta (d'Orbigny, 1847)^[5]
• Synaptocochlea pulchella (A. Adams, 1850)
• Synaptocochlea stellata (Souverbie, 1863)

The Indo-Pacific Molluscan Database also mentions the following species ^[6]

• Synaptocochlea hexagonum Philippi, 1850
• Synaptocochlea tursicus Reeve, 1848

Species brought into synonymy

• Synaptocochlea inconcinna auct. non Pilsbry, 1921: synonym of Synaptocochlea picta (d'Orbigny, 1847)
• Synaptocochlea lactea Usticke, 1959: synonym of Synaptocochlea picta (d'Orbigny, 1847)
• Synaptocochlea nigrita Rehder, 1939: synonym of Synaptocochlea picta (d'Orbigny, 1847)
• Synaptocochlea picta (Montrouzier in Souverbie & Montrouzier, 1862): synonym of Synaptocochlea montrouzieri (Pilsbry, 1890)