The higher classification of the family Marginellidae has long been in a state of confusion. Many popular works still treat all members of this family under the single genus Marginella, basing them primarily on superficial similarities of the shell.

The confusion over the classification stems from the fact that the earlier classifications were based rather crudely on shell characters. Although many good differential shell characters do exist within this group, those characters were generally misinterpreted or not recognized as significant. Such information as did exist on the radulae and the external anatomy of the living animals was widely scattered in the scientific literature, and internal anatomical descriptions were not available until fairly recently.

The shell of Marginellidae is usually small, but varies in different species from minute to medium-sized. The external color of the shell can be white, cream, yellow, orange, red, or brown, and can be uniformly colored, or patterned in various ways. The protoconch is paucispiral. The lip of the shell is thickened, and can be smooth or denticulate. An external varix may be present or absent, a siphonal notch may be present or absent. The columella may have 2-6 plications. The operculum is absent in this family. – Wikipedia

The largest member of the family is the Marginellona gigas which grows over 150mm or more. Large specimens resemble volutes as the afrivoluta pringlei, which for a long time was considered a volute until it was correctly put in this family.

Show sidebar
Afrivoluta pringlei (Pringle's marginella)
1 product

Afrivoluta pringlei (Pringle's marginella)

View products
Cryptospira elegans (Elegant marginella)
3 products

Cryptospira elegans (Elegant marginella)

View products
Cryptospira glauca (Gray marginella)
2 products

Cryptospira glauca (Gray marginella)

View products
Cryptospira mabellae
1 product

Cryptospira mabellae

View products
Cryptospira ventricosa (Broad marginella)
2 products

Cryptospira ventricosa (Broad marginella)

View products
Glabella bifasciata
10 products

Glabella bifasciata

View products
Glabella denticulata (Toothed Marginella)
8 products

Glabella denticulata (Toothed Marginella)

View products
Glabella harpaeformis (Harp-like Marginella)
5 products

Glabella harpaeformis (Harp-like Marginella)

View products
Marginella desjardini (Desjardin's marginella)
8 products

Marginella desjardini (Desjardin's marginella)

View products
Marginella glabella (Shiny Marginella)
7 products

Marginella glabella (Shiny Marginella)

View products
Marginella irrorata (Glistening marginella)
1 product

Marginella irrorata (Glistening marginella)

View products
Marginella petitii 
1 product

Marginella petitii 

View products
Marginella sebastiani (Sebastian's marginella)
2 products

Marginella sebastiani (Sebastian's marginella)

View products
Marginella senegalensis 
3 products

Marginella senegalensis 

View products
Prunum cinctum (Encircled Marginella)
9 products

Prunum cinctum (Encircled Marginella)

View products
Volvarina angustata (Narrow marginella)
1 product

Volvarina angustata (Narrow marginella)

View products