Poetina

Poetina is a genus of extinct deep-sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Pseudomelatomidae. The genus was first described by British malacologist Alan G. Beu in 2006.

Poetina snails are characterized by their slender shell shape and small to medium size, typically ranging from 15 to 30 millimeters in length. They have a translucent or pale-colored shell that is strongly shouldered. Like other members of the Pseudomelatomidae family, Poetina snails have a predictable radula morphology, featuring short, posteriorly truncate teeth and interlayer interlocking serrations.

Fossil records indicate that Poetina snails existed from the Pliocene epoch to the Pleistocene epoch, approximately 3 million to 2,500 years ago. They were found in deep-water habitats, likely at elevations ranging from 500 to 800 meters below sea level. Specimens have been discovered in fossilized sediments in Asia, specifically in the sedimentary basins of central Vietnam, Japan, and the Philippines.

The habitat of Poetina snails likely consisted of soft, fine-grained sediments and open areas devoid of boulders and strong currents. Their specific ecological requirements are not well-documented. While Poetina were likely filter feeders, feeding on suspended particles in the water column, the feeding mechanism has yet to be studied.

Poetina fossils have been of primary interest for scientists studying the evolution of deep-water marine snails and their adaptation to changing oceanic environments.