Definition

Noun: - Family Littorinidae: A taxonomic family of small to medium-sized sea snails, commonly known as periwinkles. These are marine gastropod mollusks typically found in intertidal zones on rocky shores worldwide.

Usage

• The term "Family Littorinidae" is used in scientific and biological contexts to classify a specific group of gastropods.
• It is a formal, taxonomic designation.

Examples

• Scientific Classification:
  • The common periwinkle, Littorina littorea, belongs to the family Littorinidae.
• Ecological Description:
  • Researchers studied the population dynamics of the family Littorinidae along the coastline.

Advanced Usage

• In Taxonomic Hierarchy: The family Littorinidae falls under the order Littorinimorpha and the class Gastropoda. It is used to group genera with shared morphological characteristics.
  • The phylogenetic analysis confirmed the placement of these species within the family Littorinidae.

Variants and Related Words

• Littorinid (noun/adjective): A member of the family Littorinidae; pertaining to this family.
  • The littorinid snails were abundant on the rocks.
• Periwinkle (noun): The common name for many snails within the family Littorinidae.
  • She collected periwinkles from the tidal pool.

Synonyms

• Periwinkle family: A common name synonym referring to the same taxonomic group.
• Littorinids: An informal term for members of this family.

Notes

• The term is always capitalized ("Family Littorinidae" or "Littorinidae") when referring to the formal taxonomic rank.
• In non-scientific contexts, the common name "periwinkles" is almost exclusively used instead of "Family Littorinidae."

Noun

1. periwinkles