Zoila

Lore & Background

The genus Zoila was established by Jousseaume in 1884. It contains a mix of living and fossil species, with several fossil taxa described by Darragh in 2011, including Zoila campestris, Zoila didymorhyncha, Zoila dolichorhyncha, Zoila fodinata, Zoila glomerabilis, and Zoila viathomsoni. Other fossil species include Zoila chathamensis, Zoila gigas, Zoila mulderi, and Zoila platypyga. Some species originally placed in Zoila have been moved to other genera, such as Afrozoila. The species Zoila atrata was synonymized with Mangelia decipiens, and Zoila delicatura is treated as a subspecies of Zoila eludens.

Reader's Guide

Zoila represents a diverse lineage within the cowrie family, with a notable fossil record that contributes to understanding the evolutionary history of Cypraeidae. The genus includes species described from various regions, though specific geographic ranges are not detailed in the available notes. The synonymy of several taxa, such as Zoila episema being reduced to a subspecies of Zoila venusta, reflects ongoing taxonomic refinement within the group. The fossil species described by Darragh in 2011 add to the known diversity of the genus in the Cenozoic. The genus also includes species named after individuals, such as Zoila jeaniana, Zoila mariellae, and Zoila raywalkeri, indicating a history of collector and researcher involvement. The presence of both extant and extinct species makes Zoila a useful group for studying patterns of shell morphology and biogeography over time.

Did You Know?

• Zoila includes both living and fossil species.
• Several fossil Zoila species were described by Darragh in 2011.
• Zoila delicatura is considered a subspecies of Zoila eludens.