At the dawn of higher caenogastropods – the importance of colombellinid gastropods in deciphering the origin of Tonnoidea and Cypraeidae
Journal: Geological Magazine
Year: 2026

Abstract Colombellinidae is an extinct family of marine gastropods occurring in carbonate facies from the Middle Jurassic to the lowermost Upper Cretaceous, primarily in Europe and rarely in Asia. Members of the family are characterized by thick, oval shells with a narrow aperture bearing anterior and posterior canals, a thickened peristome and a denticulate outer lip. Colombellinids share several shell characters with representatives of Cypraeoidea, including a narrow, elongated aperture, but u