Taxonomy
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Mollusca
- Class: Gastropoda
- Superfamily: Pyramidelloidea
- Family: Pyramidellidae
- Genus: Odostomia R. L. A. P. Clarke, 1860
- Species: Odostomia marginata (Say, 1826)
Authority
The species was originally described by Thomas Say in 1826 under the name Odostomia marginata. The name is presently accepted in the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) and other taxonomic databases.
General Characteristics
Odostomia species are small, elongate‑conic marine gastropods (often 1–4 mm in shell length) that belong to the family Pyramidellidae, a group of ectoparasitic snails that feed on the bodily fluids of other invertebrates, typically polychaetes and bivalves. Shells are generally smooth, with a well‑developed columellar fold, a thin outer lip, and a simple aperture. The coloration is usually whitish or transparent.
Distribution
Recorded occurrences of Odostomia marginata are primarily from the western Atlantic Ocean, especially along the eastern coast of North America. Specimens have been reported from the Gulf of Maine and adjacent New England waters, extending southward to the Mid‑Atlantic region. Precise range limits are not comprehensively documented in the accessible literature.
Habitat
Like other pyramidellids, O. marginata inhabits shallow marine environments, often found in sandy or muddy substrates where host organisms are present. Depth records are generally limited to the subtidal zone (0–50 m).
Ecology
Members of the genus are ectoparasites; they use a specialized proboscis to pierce the tissues of their hosts. Specific host relationships for O. marginata have not been detailed in published sources.
References
- Say, T. (1826). Descriptions of new marine shells of the United States. Journal of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, 1: 171‑178.
- Rosenberg, G.; Moretzsohn, F.; García, E. F. (2009). Gastropoda (Mollusca) of the Gulf of Mexico. In: Gulf of Mexico–Origins, Waters, and Biota. Texas A&M Press.
- World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS). Odostomia marginata (Say, 1826). Accessed 2026.
Note: Detailed morphological descriptions, exact measurements, and comprehensive distribution data for Odostomia marginata are limited in the readily available scientific literature. Further research, including examination of museum specimens and recent survey reports, would be required to expand the species profile.
