See text Mangeliidae is a monophyletic family of small to medium-sized, predatory sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the superfamily Conoidea.

In 2011, Bouchet, Kantor et al merged the two subfamilies into one taxon, which they elevated to the rank of family.

This family is characterized in general by usually the lack of an operculum, by a deep anal sinus on the subsutural ramp and with a heavy callus on the shoulder slope of the outer lip.

The protoconch is helicoid, with a very small initial, and rapidly increasing subsequent whorls.

The toxoglossate radula has a weak basal ribbon and relatively short marginal teeth with very variable morphology (from semi-enrolled to true hypodermic).