Gastropods of the Coralliophilidae family lie embedded in corals typical of the Western Pacific. Most have a comparatively thin shell and significant modifications of their feeding characteristics, but they are closely related to gastropods of the Murex family. Two eyestalks are found at the base of each of two tentacles, and the proboscis is rather long. However, the Rapa mollusc lacks a radula and utilizes a quite different mode of feeding. After enzymatic liquefaction of coral tissues, using its long proboscis, it feeds by sucking  out the coral's soft tissues. 

Principal genera in the Coralliophilidae family are the Coralliophila, Latiaxis, and Magilus. "Magilidae" is  synonymous for the Coralliophilidae family.

 

Classification

Class: Gastropoda

Clade: Neogastropoda

Superfamily: Muricoidea

Family: Coralliophilidae

Latiaxis mawae (Griffith & Pidgeon, 1834)
Mawae's Latiaxis
(Japan 1960)

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