Bulimulus tenuissimus
Encyclopedia
Bulimulus tenuissimus is a species
of tropical air-breathing land snail
, a pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the subfamily Bulimulinae.
The non-indigenous distribution includes:
is perforate, ovate-conic, very thin, pellucid, scarcely shining, obsoletely and closely decussated by growth striae and delicate spiral lines. The shell is pale corneous in color, sometimes fulvous. The spire
is conoid. The apex
is rather acute. The suture is simple. The shell has six whorls
that are slightly convex, increasing with moderate rapidity. The last whorl is convex, not descending in front, somewhat attenuated at base. The columella is suboblique, sometimes nearly vertical.
The aperture
is oval, colored like the exterior, onehalf the shell's length. The peristome is simple, unexpanded, acute. The right margin is regularly arcuate. The columellar margin is reflexed above, nearly covering the perforation.
The width of the shell is 9 mm. The height of the shell is 17 mm.
of this species was studied by Silva et al. (2008): These hermaphroditic snails are mating and cross-fertilization
normally occurs. When snails are isolated then self-fertilization can occur, but with the lower reproductive succes. Eggs are laid in clutches from one to 252 eggs (in captivity). Snails are hatched after about 20 days.
Bulimulus tenuissimus has long lifespan.
Bulimulus tenuissimus can be fed for example with calcium and commercial bird food
, lettuce or rations of various food components.
Bulimulus tenuissimus is a host for a trematode of the genus Postharmostomum (family Brachylaimidae).
Strongyluris-like larvae are a parasite of Bulimulus tenuissimus.
Malacophagula neotropica (family Sarcophagidae) is a parasite of Bulimulus tenuissimus.
A firefly
is a predator of Bulimulus tenuissimus.
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of tropical air-breathing land snail
Land snail
A land snail is any of the many species of snail that live on land, as opposed to those that live in salt water and fresh water. Land snails are terrestrial gastropod mollusks that have shells, It is not always an easy matter to say which species are terrestrial, because some are more or less...
, a pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the subfamily Bulimulinae.
Distribution
The native distribution of Bulimulus tenuissimus includes:- Brazil - widespread in Brazil
The non-indigenous distribution includes:
- North CarolinaNorth CarolinaNorth Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, USA
Description
The shellGastropod shell
The gastropod shell is a shell which is part of the body of a gastropod or snail, one kind of mollusc. The gastropod shell is an external skeleton or exoskeleton, which serves not only for muscle attachment, but also for protection from predators and from mechanical damage...
is perforate, ovate-conic, very thin, pellucid, scarcely shining, obsoletely and closely decussated by growth striae and delicate spiral lines. The shell is pale corneous in color, sometimes fulvous. The spire
Spire (mollusc)
A spire is a descriptive term for part of the coiled shell of mollusks. The word is a convenient aid in describing shells, but it does not refer to a very precise part of shell anatomy: the spire consists of all of the whorls except for the body whorl...
is conoid. The apex
Apex (mollusc)
Apex is an anatomical term for the tip of the mollusc shell of a gastropod, scaphopod, or cephalopod mollusc.-Gastropods:The word "apex" is most often used to mean the tip of the spire of the shell of a gastropod...
is rather acute. The suture is simple. The shell has six whorls
Whorl (mollusc)
A whorl is a single, complete 360° revolution or turn in the spiral growth of a mollusc shell. A spiral configuration of the shell is found in of numerous gastropods, but it is also found in shelled cephalopods including Nautilus, Spirula and the large extinct subclass of cephalopods known as the...
that are slightly convex, increasing with moderate rapidity. The last whorl is convex, not descending in front, somewhat attenuated at base. The columella is suboblique, sometimes nearly vertical.
The aperture
Aperture (mollusc)
The aperture is an opening in certain kinds of mollusc shells: it is the main opening of the shell, where part of the body of the animal emerges for locomotion, feeding, etc....
is oval, colored like the exterior, onehalf the shell's length. The peristome is simple, unexpanded, acute. The right margin is regularly arcuate. The columellar margin is reflexed above, nearly covering the perforation.
The width of the shell is 9 mm. The height of the shell is 17 mm.
Ecology
The reproductive biologyReproductive biology
Reproductive biology is a study mainly involving the reproductive system and sex organs. It is closely related to reproductive endocrinology and infertility. also is miotosis and miosis...
of this species was studied by Silva et al. (2008): These hermaphroditic snails are mating and cross-fertilization
Cross-fertilization
Cross-fertilization can refer to:*Allogamy, where an ovum from one individual is fertilized with the spermatozoa of another*Heterosis, where different strains are cross-bred to form a hybrid...
normally occurs. When snails are isolated then self-fertilization can occur, but with the lower reproductive succes. Eggs are laid in clutches from one to 252 eggs (in captivity). Snails are hatched after about 20 days.
Bulimulus tenuissimus has long lifespan.
Bulimulus tenuissimus can be fed for example with calcium and commercial bird food
Bird food
Bird food is food eaten by birds. Humans generally make or buy bird food to feed to pet birds or use in birdfeeders. Birdfood can be natural or commercial...
, lettuce or rations of various food components.
Bulimulus tenuissimus is a host for a trematode of the genus Postharmostomum (family Brachylaimidae).
Strongyluris-like larvae are a parasite of Bulimulus tenuissimus.
Malacophagula neotropica (family Sarcophagidae) is a parasite of Bulimulus tenuissimus.
A firefly
Firefly
Lampyridae is a family of insects in the beetle order Coleoptera. They are winged beetles, and commonly called fireflies or lightning bugs for their conspicuous crepuscular use of bioluminescence to attract mates or prey. Fireflies produce a "cold light", with no infrared or ultraviolet frequencies...
is a predator of Bulimulus tenuissimus.
Further reading
- Araújo J. L. B., Rezende H. E. B. & Rodrigues P. A. F. (1960). "Sobre “Bulimulus tenuissimus” (Orbigny, 1835) (Gastropoda, Pulmonata)". Revista Brasileira de Biologia 20(1): 33-42.
- Rezende H. E. B. & Lanzieri P. D. (1964). "Observações anatômicas e histológicas sobre “Bulimulus tenuissimus” (Orbigny, 1835) (Gastropoda, Pulmonata, Bulimulidae)". Revista Brasileira de Biologia 24(4): 409-415. Silva L. C., Meireles L. O., Junqueira F. O. & Bessa B. A. (2009). "Influência da umidade do substrato sobre crescimento, produção de ovos e sobrevivência de Bulimulus tenuissimus (d’Orbigny, 1835) (Mollusca, Bulimulidae) sob condições de laboratório". Revista Brasileira de Biociências 7(2): 144-149. http://www.ufrgs.br/seerbio/ojs/index.php/rbb/article/view/999