AN ANCIENT GASTROPOD GENUS (WITH A CONFUSING NAME) LIVES ON 

Tudicla lived in tropical, shallow-marine communities during the Late Cretaceous and Paleogene (Paleocene and Eocene). Through time, it decreased both in diversity and geographical range. Today, it is believed to be represented by only a single species, Tudicla spirillus (Linnaeus, 1767), known only from depths of 10–20 m, in sandy bottoms off southeastern India and Sri Lanka (Harasewych, 2018). This species is also the type species of the genus of Tudicla. The taxonomy relationships of this genus, however, have been subject of considerable conflicting interpretations. Also, Tudicla has been variously assigned to at least five different families by modern workers.

[note: Tudicla is not the same gastropod as Tudicula H. an A. Adams, but the similarity between these two separate gastropods still causes some confusion]. 

Front and back views of Tudicla spirillus (height [58 mm (2.5 inches), width 36 mm (1.5 inches)] from southeastern India.

Reference Cited:

Harasewych, M.G. 2018. The anatomy of Tudicla spirillus (Linnaeus, 1767) and the relationships of the Tudiclidae (Gastropoda: Neogastropoda). The Nautilus 132(2):35–44.