Ampullinidae

Ampullinidae is an extinct family of marine gastropods known from the fossil record. The type genus is Ampullina, and the family has been placed in various locations within gastropod classifications as systematic perspectives have changed over time. In modern frameworks, ampullinids are generally treated as a caenogastropod group linked with the superfamily Ampullinoidea or allied lineages, though exact placement has varied among taxonomic treatments.

The fossil record of Ampullinidae extends across a broad temporal range, with occurrences reported from the Triassic through the Paleogene in many regions. Fossils attributed to the family have been found in Europe, North America, Africa, and Asia, indicating a wide geographic distribution. The shells of ampullinids are typically small to medium-sized and display a variety of shapes, often with a globose to gently ovoid profile and a smoothly rounded body whorl. The apertural features are commonly notable, and shell sculpture ranges from smooth to ribbed or cancellate in different genera. Because soft parts are rarely preserved, much of the internal anatomy and living behavior remains uncertain and is inferred from shell morphology and associated fossil communities.

Ecology and habitat were primarily marine, with ampullinids occurring in shallow to moderately deep shelf environments alongside other mollusks and marine fauna. Feeding modes are inferred from shell form and comparisons with related gastropods, suggesting detritivory or grazing on microalgae and biofilms in many species.

Significance: Ampullinidae contributes to discussions of molluscan evolution, paleobiogeography, and the biostratigraphy of Triassic to Paleogene rocks, reflecting broader patterns of marine gastropod diversification and turnover during these intervals.