Pseudomelatomidae
Anatomically, Pseudomelatomidae is the most variable family of Conoidea. Most genera were formerly included in the subfamily Crassispirinae, but the nomenclaturally valid name for this clade is Pseudomelatomidae. Its constituents includes several taxa that were previously recognized as separate
(sub)families: Zonulispirinae, characterized by semienrolled marginal radular teeth (a character found in several branches of the clade), and Pseudomelatominae, defined on the basis of the very characteristic solid marginal teeth and strongly developed rachidian.Kantor (1995) elevated the subfamily Pseudomelatominae (considered to be in Conidae) to the status of family Pseudomelatomidae. In 2011 Bouchet, Kantor et al. moved the Crassispirinae and Zonulispirinae and numerous genera of snails loosely called turrid snails (which at that point had been placed in the family Conidae) and placed them in the family Pseudomelatomidae. This was based on a cladistical analysis of shell morphology, radular characteristics, anatomical characters, and a dataset of molecular sequences of three gene fragments
Bouchet et al. 2011 state: Shell small to rather large, 15– 100 mm high, claviform to fusiform. Spiral and axial sculpture generally well developed, often strong. Subsutural fold often present. Anal sinus on subsutural ramp, usually moderately deep to very deep, often constrained by callus rendering anal sinus subtubular. Protoconch usually paucispiral, sometimes multispiral, with up to three whorls, smooth or sometimes axially or spirally sculptured on later whorls.
In living taxa:
Operculum with terminal nucleus.Radula very variable with four types are recorded.