Narellidae

Narellidae is a family of marine gastropod mollusks, commonly known as the "wave snails." These small to medium-sized snails are found in shallow, sandy, or muddy bottoms of tropical and subtropical oceans worldwide. They are characterized by their conical or ovate shells, which are often smooth and lack a prominent aperture. The shells typically range in color from white to brown or gray and may exhibit banding or other patterns.

The Narellidae family is part of the superfamily Campaniloidea, which includes several other families of marine snails. Narellids are detritivores, meaning they feed on organic matter found in the sediment. They use a radula, a ribbon-like structure with teeth, to scrape food particles from the seafloor. Their reproductive biology is not extensively studied, but like many marine gastropods, they likely release planktonic larvae into the water column.

While not economically significant, Narellidae play a role in the benthic ecosystem by contributing to nutrient cycling and serving as a food source for other marine organisms. Their presence and abundance can be indicators of the health of sandy bottom habitats. Research on this family primarily focuses on their taxonomy, distribution, and ecological roles within their marine environments.