Vexillum | |
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An apertural view of a shell of Vexillum taeniatum | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Mollusca |
Class: | Gastropoda |
Subclass: | Caenogastropoda |
Order: | Neogastropoda |
Superfamily: | Turbinelloidea |
Family: | Costellariidae |
Genus: | Vexillum Röding, 1798 |
Type species | |
Vexillum plicatum Röding, 1798
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Synonyms[1] | |
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Vexillum is a genus of small to medium-sized sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the family Costellariidae.[1]
This genus is not monophyletic. The genus Vexillum contains about 80% of costellariid diversity.[2] It is considered a "dumping ground" for an array of unrelated forms.[3]
The shell is elongated, turreted, longitudinally ribbed or plicate. The spire is acuminated. The aperture is narrow. The columella shows numerous plaits. The outer lip is internally striated.[4]
Vexillum species produce complex venoms dominated by highly diversified short cysteine-rich peptides, vexitoxins, related to conotoxins.[5]
This genus is cosmopolitan and occurs in tropical and temperate seas, but primarily in shallow waters (but also at bathyal depths) of the tropical Indo-Pacific.
Species within the genus Vexillum include:[1]