In Columbellidae there has been a split into two subfamilies, of which one,
Columbellinae, is supposed to be herbivorous (algae), and the other,
Pyreninae, is suposed to be either carnivorous or scavengers.
 
----------
> Van: G. Thomas Watters <[log in to unmask]>
> Aan: [log in to unmask]
> Onderwerp: Re: Family preferences
> Datum: woensdag 28 januari 1998 14:05
>
> >Not that more than the two eager-beavers who e-ed me seem to care, but
> >it seems all Muricids, Nucella lapillus included, are flesh-eaters, and
> >distain anything remotely resembling a vegetable.
> >
> >        My question now is, are there families of molluscs which are
split
> >along  vegetarian/carnivore lines?  My understanding  is that there are
> >fundamental differences in the radula of primary vs secondary consumers,
> >and that the radula is an "evolutionarily conservative" feature,
> >meaning  that it changes more slowly than such things as patterns,
> >sculpture, size, etc.  Thus, radulae amongst members of any taxonomic
> >unit as closely related as the "Family" level, will be similar enough to
> >make it  seemingly unlikely in the extreme that any Family would contain
> >species whose radula is specialized for carnivorie as well as relatively
> >unspecialized salad-munching radulae-bearing  spp.  Howev er, i
> >nevertheless request the list to come up with exeptions to this
> >supposition.  Any candidates?
> >
> >
> - Ross Mayhew
> >
> >
>
> In the chitons, the Mopaliidae are split (but quite lopsided). Mopalia,
> Plaxiphora, etc. are vegans; Placiphorella are carnivores.
>
> It also is my understanding that some conchs, such as S. gallus, are
> scavengers rather than vegans.
>
> *  G Thomas Watters               *
> *  Ohio Biological Survey &       *
> *  Aquatic Ecology Laboratory     *
> *  Ohio State University          *
> *  1315 Kinnear Rd.               *
> *  Columbus, OH 43212 USA         *
> *  v:614-292-6170 f:614-292-0181  *
>
> "The world is my oyster, except for months with an "R" in them" -
Firesign
> Theater