Columbariinae Tomlin, 1928

Harasewych, M. G., 2011, The Living Columbariinae (Gastropoda: Neogastropoda: Turbinellidae) of New Zealand, Zootaxa 2744 (1), pp. 1-33 : 3

Subfamily Columbariinae Tomlin, 1928

Diagnosis. Shell small to moderate sized (to 127 mm), thin, fusiform, with deviated paucispiral protoconch, sculptured periphery, smooth columella, long, narrow, axial siphonal canal spirally twisted in its distal portion. Opercula strongly ovate, tapering evenly to terminal nucleus, with rounded attachment area, tapered third free. Animal characterized by: extremely long (> shell length), narrow proboscis coiled within a non-evertable proboscis sheath; minute radula; rachidian teeth with 3 simple cusps concentrated along distinctive, central, U-shaped section of basal plate; monocuspid, scythe-like lateral teeth; paired, ascinous salivary glands; absence of accessory glands; small valve of Leiblein; large gland of Leiblein; U-shaped stomach; narrow rectum with small rectal gland. Diet of tubiculous polychaetes. Males with open sperm groove, long, flattened penis with or without terminal papilla. Pallial gonoduct of females consists of: albumen gland, long cylindrical capsule gland, short bursa copulatrix with terminal female opening.