Schilderia
A nomen nudum genus of cowries, now largely synonymized under Schilderina.
Schilderia is a genus of sea snails, specifically marine gastropod mollusks belonging to the cowrie family, Cypraeidae. The name is considered a nomen nudum, and nearly all species once placed here are now treated as synonyms within the genus Schilderina, established by Dolin & Aguerre in 2020.
The shells of these snails range in size from 22 mm to 50 mm. Their upper surface, or dorsum, is typically brown, while the base is white. Species in this genus are found across the western Mediterranean Sea and along the coasts of western Africa.
The fossil record of Schilderia extends back to the Miocene epoch, with an age range from about 23.03 to 2.588 million years ago. Fossils have been discovered in Italy, Spain, France, and Greece.
Species formerly included in Schilderia, along with their current status, are listed below. Many are now considered synonyms of species in Schilderina or other genera.
Species brought into synonymy: - Schilderia achatidea (Gray in Sowerby II, 1837): synonym of Schilderina achatidea (Gray, 1837) - Schilderia sakuraii Habe, 1970: synonym of Austrasiatica sakuraii (Habe, 1970)
Fossil species: - † Schilderia amygdalum (Brocchi, 1814): synonym of † Schilderina amygdalum (Brocchi, 1814) - † Schilderia andegavensis (Defrance, 1826): synonym of † Schilderina andegavensis (Defrance, 1826) - † Schilderia brebioni Dolin & Lozouet, 2004: synonym of † Schilderina brebioni (Dolin & Lozouet, 2004) (original combination) - † Schilderia columbaria (Lamarck, 1810): synonym of † Schilderina columbaria (Lamarck, 1822) - † Schilderia decorticata (Defrance, 1826) - † Schilderia fasciolaria Dolin & Lozouet, 2004: synonym of † Schilderia brebioni Dolin & Lozouet, 2004, which is itself a synonym of † Schilderina brebioni (Dolin & Lozouet, 2004) - † Schilderia flavicula (Lamarck, 1810): synonym of Schilderina longiscata (Mayer, 1875) - † Schilderia garonettii Fehse, 2004 - † Schilderia incognita Dolin & Lozouet, 2004: synonym of † Schilderia brebioni Dolin & Lozouet, 2004, which is itself a synonym of † Schilderina brebioni (Dolin & Lozouet, 2004) - † Schilderia lauriatae Dolin & Lozouet, 2004: synonym of † Schilderia brebioni Dolin & Lozouet, 2004, which is itself a synonym of † Schilderina brebioni (Dolin & Lozouet, 2004) - † Schilderia longiscata (Mayer, 1875) - † Schilderia plioamygdalum (Sacco, 1894) - † Schilderia pseudamygdalum (Sacco, 1894) - †
- Shell size
- 22 mm to 50 mm
- Dorsum color
- Usually brown
- Base color
- White
- Distribution
- Western Mediterranean Sea and western Africa coasts
- Fossil range
- Miocene (23.03 to 2.588 million years ago)
- Fossil locations
- Italy, Spain, France, Greece
Lore & Background
The shell size of these sea snails varies between 22 mm and 50 mm. The dorsum surface is usually brown, while the base is white. Species within this genus are widespread in the western Mediterranean Sea and along the coasts of western Africa. The fossil record of this genus dates back to the Miocene, with an age range from 23.03 to 2.588 million years ago. These fossils have been found in Italy, Spain, France, and Greece. Many species originally placed in Schilderia have been reassigned to Schilderina, including both extant and fossil forms. For example, Schilderia achatidea is a synonym of Schilderina achatidea, and the fossil species Schilderia amygdalum is a synonym of Schilderina amygdalum. Several fossil species, such as Schilderia longiscata and Schilderia garonettii, remain within the genus, though many others have been synonymized under Schilderina brebioni.
Reader's Guide
Schilderia holds significance primarily as a historical taxonomic grouping within the cowrie family. Its status as a nomen nudum indicates that the name was published without a proper description, leading to its widespread synonymization under Schilderina. The genus illustrates the fluidity of taxonomic classification in marine gastropods, particularly among cowries. The species once assigned to Schilderia are now understood to belong to Schilderina, a genus established in 2020. The fossil record of Schilderia provides insight into the Miocene marine environments of southern Europe, with numerous fossil species described from Italy, Spain, France, and Greece. The extensive synonymy, especially among fossil species like Schilderia brebioni and its many synonyms (including Schilderia fasciolaria, Schilderia incognita, Schilderia lauriatae, and Schilderia veronicata), reflects the challenges of distinguishing cowrie species based on shell morphology alone. The genus remains a point of reference for paleontologists and malacologists studying the evolutionary history of Cypraeidae in the Mediterranean region.
Did You Know?
- Schilderia is a nomen nudum, meaning the name was published without a valid description.
- Almost all species of Schilderia have become synonyms in the genus Schilderina.
- The fossil record of Schilderia dates back to the Miocene, from 23.03 to 2.588 million years ago.
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