Changes in the taxonomy of gastropods since 2005

This overview lists proposed changes in the taxonomy of gastropods at the family level and above since 2005, when the taxonomy of the Gastropoda by Bouchet & Rocroi (2005) was published. In other words, these are recent updates in the way various groups of snails and slugs are classified.

Changes in subfamilies are outlined in the respective articles about each particular family. Unchanged taxa are not listed here.

In one of the largest recent changes (affecting the most species of gastropods), Klussmann-Kolb et al. (2008) showed that the traditional classification of the Euthyneura needed to be reconsidered. The change was subsequently made by Jörger et al. (2010), who redefined the major groups within the Heterobranchia.

A great number of major changes have been made within the classification of the Conoidea since 2011.

In the 2017 issue of "Malacologia" journal (available online from 4 January 2018) new much updated version of 2005 "Bouchet & Rocroi" taxonomy was published: "Revised Classification, Nomenclator and Typification of Gastropod and Monoplacophoran Families".

Helcionelloida (not gastropods)
It has become clear that the fossil taxon Helcionelloida does not belong to the class Gastropoda; it is now a separate class within the Mollusca. P. Yu. Parkhaev (2006, 2007) created the class Helcionelloida, whose members were previously treated as "Paleozoic molluscs of uncertain systematic position" sensu Bouchet & Rocroi.

Subclass Archaeobranchia Parkhaev, 2001
 * Order Helcionelliformes Golikov & Starobogatov, 1975
 * Superfamily Helcionelloidea Wenz, 1938
 * Family Helcionellidae Wenz, 1938
 * Family Igarkiellidae Parkhaev, 2001
 * Family Coreospiridae Knight, 1947


 * Superfamily Yochelcionelloidea Runnegar & Jell, 1976
 * Family Trenellidae Parkhaev, 2001
 * Family Yochelcionellidae Runnegar & Jell, 1976
 * Family Stenothecidae Runnegar & Jell, 1980


 * Subfamily Stenothecinae Runnegar & Jell, 1980
 * Subfamily Watsonellinae Parkhaev, 2001
 * Order Pelagiellifomes MacKinnon, 1985
 * Family Pelagiellidae Knight, 1952
 * Family Aldanellidae Linsley et Kier, 1984

Subclass Divasibranchia Minichev & Starobogatov, 1975
 * Order Khairkhaniiformes Parkhaev, 2001
 * Family Khairkhaniidae Missarzhevsky, 1989

Subclass Dextrobranchia Minichev & Starobogatov, 1975
 * Order Onychochiliformes Minichev & Starobogatov, 1975
 * Family Onychochilidae Koken, 1925

Patellogastropoda
This revised taxonomy of the Patellogastropoda (the true limpets) is based on research by Nakano & Ozawa (2007). The Acmaeidae is treated as a synonym of Lottiidae; the subfamily Pectinodontinae is elevated to Pectinodontidae; a new family Eoacmaeidae with the new type genus Eoacmaea is established. The remaining three families (Neolepetopsidae, Daminilidae, Lepetopsidae) are moved into the Lottioidea, like this:
 * superfamily Eoacmaeoidea
 * family Eoacmaeidae
 * superfamily Patelloidea
 * family Patellidae
 * superfamily Lottioidea
 * family Nacellidae
 * family Lepetidae
 * family Pectinodontidae
 * family Lottiidae
 * family Neolepetopsidae
 * † family Daminilidae
 * † family Lepetopsidae

Vetigastropoda
Geiger (2009) elevated the subfamily Depressizoninae to family level as Depressizonidae. Also two subfamilies (the Larocheinae from the Scissurellidae, and the Temnocinclinae from the Sutilizonidae) were upgraded to family level as the Larocheidae and the Temnocinclidae.
 * Superfamily Lepetodriloidea
 * Family Lepetodrilidae
 * Family Clypeosectidae
 * Family Sutilizonidae
 * Family Temnocinclidae
 * Superfamily Scissurelloidea
 * Family Scissurellidae
 * Family Larocheidae
 * Family Anatomidae
 * Family Depressizonidae

The superfamily Trochoidea was redefined by Williams et al. (2008) and the superfamily Turbinoidea is no longer used. Phasianelloidea and Angarioidea were created as new superfamilies.

Trochoidea
 * Trochidae
 * Turbinidae
 * Solariellidae
 * Calliostomatidae
 * Liotiidae
 * † Family Elasmonematidae
 * † Family Eucochlidae
 * † Family Microdomatidae
 * † Family Proconulidae
 * † Family Tychobraheidae
 * † Family Velainellidae

Phasianelloidea
 * Phasianellidae
 * Colloniidae

Angarioidea
 * Angariidae - monotypic with Angaria
 * Areneidae (probable placement)

Neomphalina
The superfamily Neomphaloidea was previously regarded as belonging within the clade Vetigastropoda. Molecular phylogeny has shown however that it belongs in its own clade, Neomphalina, which is endemic to deep-sea hydrothermal vent habitat. The clade Neomphalina appears to be basal to the Vetigastropoda. Neomphalina is a monophyletic clade, however, its exact relationship among the gastropods is uncertain.

Neritimorpha
Bandel (2007) described four new families within the Neritopsoidea. He classified Neritopsoidea in the order Neritoina within the superorder Cycloneritimorpha and within the subclass Neritimorpha. Bandel (2007) recognizes Natisopsinae (in Neritopsidae by Bouchet & Rocrois 2005) at the family level, as Naticopsidae. Bandel's classification looks like this:

superfamily Neritopsoidea
 * family Neritopsidae
 * † Fedaiellidae Bandel, 2007
 * † family Delphinulopsidae
 * † family Cortinellidae
 * † Palaeonaricidae Bandel, 2007
 * † Naticopsidae - Natisopsinae (in Neritopsidae by Bouchet & Rocroid 2005) is recognized at family level by Bandel (2007).
 * † Tricolnaticopsidae Bandel, 2007
 * † Scalaneritinidae Bandel, 2007
 * † family Plagiothyridae
 * † family Pseudorthonychiidae
 * family Titiscaniidae

Caenogastropoda
The family Provannidae was moved to the superfamily Abyssochrysoidea Tomlin, 1927. In addition, a new family Hokkaidoconchidae Kaim, Jenkins & Warén, 2008 was named.
 * superfamily Abyssochrysoidea
 * family Provannidae
 * family Hokkaidoconchidae

The subfamily Semisulcospirinae, within the Pleuroceridae, was elevated to the family level Semisulcospiridae by Strong & Köhler (2009).
 * superfamily Cerithioidea
 * family Pleuroceridae
 * family Semisulcospiridae
 * and others

Bandel (2006) made numerous changes in the following clades: Cerithimorpha/Cerithioidea, Turritellimorpha/Turritelloidea, Murchisonimorpha/Orthonematoidea, Campanilimorpha/Campaniloidea and Ampullinoidea, Vermetimorpha/Vermetoidea.

Fehse (2007) elevated both the subfamily Pediculariinae and the tribe Eocypraeini (which were previously in the family Ovulidae) to family level, based on both morphological research and molecular phylogeny research. Families within Cypraeoidea are now as follows:
 * superfamily Cypraeoidea
 * family Cypraeidae
 * family Eocypraeidae
 * family Ovulidae
 * family Pediculariidae

Within the Tonnoidea, Beu (2008) raised the subfamily Cassinae to the rank of family: Cassidae Latreille, 1825.

Bouchet et al. (2011) updated the taxonomy of the superfamily Conoidea:
 * New family Horaiclavidae Bouchet, Kantor, Sysoev & Puillandre, 2011
 * Some subfamilies were elevated to families
 * The polyphyletic family Turridae was split up in 13 monophyletic families by raising a number of subfamilies to the rank of family.

In 2012, within the Conoidea, a new family Bouchetispiridae Kantor, Strong & Puillandre, 2012 that includes one genus Bouchetispira Kantor, Strong & Puillandre, 2012 and one species Bouchetispira vitrea Kantor, Strong & Puillandre, 2012, was discovered.

In 2015, in the Journal of Molluscan Studies, Puillandre, Duda, Meyer, Olivera & Bouchet presented a new classification for the old genus Conus. Using 329 species, the authors carried out molecular phylogenetic analyses. The results suggested that the authors should place all cone snails in a single family, Conidae, containing four genera: Conus, Conasprella, Profundiconus and Californiconus. The authors group 85% of all known cone snail species under Conus, They recognize 57 subgenera within Conus, and 11 subgenera within the genus Conasprella. .

Heterobranchia
Janssen (2005) established a new family, Praecuvierinidae.

Gosliner et al. (2007) elevated the subfamily Babakininae to the family level as Babakinidae.

Golding et al. (2007) established new families within the Amphiboloidea:
 * Maningrididae Golding, Ponder & Byrne, 2007
 * Phallomedusidae Golding, Ponder & Byrne, 2007

Uit de Weerd (2008) moved two families Urocoptidae and Cerionidae to the newly established superfamily Urocoptoidea, based on molecular phylogeny research as follows:

superfamily Urocoptoidea
 * family Urocoptidae
 * family Cerionidae

Other authors also made numerous taxonomic changes within Orthalicoidea in 2009-2012.

Schrödl & Neusser (2010) rearranged the taxonomy of the Acochlidiacea.

Swennen & Buatip (2009) described a new family Aitengidae, which was later moved to Acochlidiacea by Jörger et al. (2010).

Malaquias et al. (2009) rearranged the taxonomy of the Cephalaspidea sensu lato: reinstated Architectibranchia, reinstated Runcinacea, reinstated Scaphandridae as a valid family, but they did not use superfamilies.

Subsequently, Malaquias (2010) moved Bullacta exarata (formerly the only member of Bullactidae) into the family Haminoeidae.

Sutcharit et al. (2010) established a new family Diapheridae within the Streptaxoidea in 2010.

Jörger et al. (2010) redefined major groups of Heterobranchia and created the new clades Euopisthobranchia and Panpulmonata.

Maeda et al. (2010) confirmed the placement of Cylindrobulla within the Sacoglossa.

Thompson (2010) redefined subfamilies in Spiraxidae, moving Euglandininae and Streptostylinae (from where they had been in the Oleacinidae per Bouchet & Rocroi (2005)) so that they became subfamilies of Spiraxidae.

Johnson (2011) resurrected the family Cadlinidae.

Thompson (2012) established a new family, Epirobiidae.

Thompson & Naranjo-García (2012) described a new family Echinichidae within Xanthonychoidea.

Prestonellinae was formally described as a new subfamily within Bothriembryontidae in 2016.

Proposals and research

 * Based on nucleotide sequences of mitochondrial genomes Grande et al. (2008) proposed these changes:
 * Pulmonata is polyphyletic
 * Euthyneura is not monophyletic because the Pyramidelloidea should be included within the Euthyneura
 * Opisthobranchia is not monophyletic because Siphonaria pectinata should be recognized as a member of the Opisthobranchia
 * Peter J. Wagner considers Isospiridae to be a synonym of Cyrtonellidae within the Tergomya, The Paleobiology Database has adapted this as yet (February 2010) unpublished opinion by Wagner. This alternate taxonomy is as: Tergomya, Cyrtonellida, Cyrtonellidae.