Skenea

Skenea is a genus of minute marine gastropod mollusks in the family Skeneidae. Members are small sea snails characterized by tiny shells, commonly only a few millimeters long, with shapes ranging from smooth and rounded to slightly spiraled. Shells are often translucent or pale and lack strong sculpture, though some species show fine axial or spiral threads. The aperture is simple, and the animal bears a typical gastropod radula.

They are benthic organisms inhabiting a variety of substrata, including algae, detritus, and soft sediments. Skenea species have been found in marine environments from shallow subtidal zones to deeper continental shelf regions, and they occur in temperate to cold waters in many ocean basins.

Ecology and life history vary among species. They are generally micro-grazers, feeding on microalgae and biofilm on surfaces. Reproduction is equally variable, with some species having direct development and others exhibiting short-lived larval stages.

Taxonomy and identification: The genus Skenea has been subject to revision as new morphological and molecular data have become available. It is distinguished by a combination of shell morphology and soft-body features, though species-level identification requires careful examination, often under magnification and sometimes dissection of the radula and soft parts. Overall, Skenea represents one of the smaller and more obscure lineages within Skeneidae.