Hypsogastropoda

Hypsogastropoda is a superfamily of marine gastropod mollusks. This group primarily comprises predatory sea snails known for their diverse shell morphologies and feeding habits. Traditionally, Hypsogastropoda has been placed within the order Neogastropoda, a large and diverse assemblage of Caenogastropoda. However, phylogenetic analyses using molecular data have led to a re-evaluation of its taxonomic position, with some studies suggesting it represents a distinct lineage that may require further refinement of higher-level classifications.

Members of Hypsogastropoda are found in a wide range of marine environments, from intertidal zones to deep-sea habitats, and are distributed globally. They exhibit significant variation in shell shape, sculpture, and aperture. Many species possess a siphonal canal, a groove that extends from the aperture, which they use to extend a siphon for respiration and sensing their surroundings. Their diet commonly consists of other invertebrates, including bivalves, polychaetes, and even other gastropods, which they capture using specialized radular teeth and sometimes a proboscis. This predatory lifestyle is a defining characteristic of the superfamily. Common examples of families often included within or closely related to Hypsogastropoda are Muricidae (murex snails), Buccinidae (whelks), and Conidae (cone snails), although the exact taxonomic composition of the superfamily is subject to ongoing research and debate.