Helminthoglyptidae
Encyclopedia
The Helminthoglyptidae are a family
of air-breathing land snail
s, terrestrial
pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the superfamily Helicoidea
.
This is a large and diverse group of new world snails, ranging in distribution from Alaska
through North America
to the West Indies, Central America
, and as far south as Argentina
.
The shells are typically of medium to large size, with no apertural
teeth but usually with a reflected apertural lip.
may be present or absent. They possess a single dart appartus with one stylophore (dart sac) and two mucus glands. These snails use the love dart
as part of their mating behavior.
In this family, the number of haploid chromosome
s lies between 26 and 30 (according to the values in this table).
, Epiphragmophoridae
, Humboldtianidae
, Monadeniidae
, and Xanthonychidae
.
Subfamilies in the family Helminthoglyptidae include (according taxonomy of the Gastropoda by Bouchet & Rocroi, 2005
):
Subfamily Helminthoglyptinae Pilsbry, 1939
Subfamily Sonorellinae Pilsbry, 1939: the diverticulum and the dart apparatus are absent.
Helminthoglyptinae
tribe Helminthoglyptini, subtribe Helminthoglyptina
tribe Helminthoglyptini, subtribe Micrariontina
tribe Sonorelicini
Sonorellinae
subfamily ?
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
of 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...
s, terrestrial
Terrestrial animal
Terrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land , as compared with aquatic animals, which live predominantly or entirely in the water , or amphibians, which rely on a combination of aquatic and terrestrial habitats...
pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the superfamily Helicoidea
Helicoidea
Helicoidea is a taxonomic superfamily of air-breathing land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the clade Stylommatophora.-Families:There are 19 families within the superfamily Helicoidea according to Bouchet & Rocroi .* Helicidae...
.
This is a large and diverse group of new world snails, ranging in distribution from Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
through North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
to the West Indies, Central America
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
, and as far south as Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
.
The shells are typically of medium to large size, with no apertural
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....
teeth but usually with a reflected apertural lip.
Anatomy
In the species in this family, the diverticulumDiverticulum
A diverticulum is medical or biological term for an outpouching of a hollow structure in the body. Depending upon which layers of the structure are involved, they are described as being either true or false....
may be present or absent. They possess a single dart appartus with one stylophore (dart sac) and two mucus glands. These snails use the love dart
Love dart
A love dart is a hard, long, sharp, calcareous or chitinous dart which some hermaphroditic land snails and slugs create. Love darts are made in sexually mature animals only, and are used as part of the sequence of events during courtship, before actual mating takes place...
as part of their mating behavior.
In this family, the number of haploid chromosome
Chromosome
A chromosome is an organized structure of DNA and protein found in cells. It is a single piece of coiled DNA containing many genes, regulatory elements and other nucleotide sequences. Chromosomes also contain DNA-bound proteins, which serve to package the DNA and control its functions.Chromosomes...
s lies between 26 and 30 (according to the values in this table).
Taxonomy
The basic nomenclature and taxonomy of this large and complex family of land snails has been the subject of many modifications, and the list of genera given here is applicable only when the family is broadly interpreted. Many of these snail genera have been placed by various authors in more restrictively defined families, such as: CepolidaeCepolidae (gastropods)
Cepolidae is a family of air-breathing land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the superfamily Helicoidea .-Anatomy:...
, Epiphragmophoridae
Epiphragmophoridae
Epiphragmophoridae is a family of air-breathing land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the superfamily Helicoidea . This family has no subfamilies.-Anatomy:...
, Humboldtianidae
Humboldtianidae
Humboldtianidae is an American family of air-breathing land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the superfamily Helicoidea .-Anatomy:...
, Monadeniidae
Monadeniidae
Monadeniidae is a taxonomic family of small to medium sized air-breathing land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the superfamily Helicoidea . This family has no subfamilies.-Anatomy:This family is defined by an absent diverticulum...
, and Xanthonychidae
Xanthonychidae
Xanthonychidae is a family of air-breathing land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the superfamily Helicoidea.This family is within the clade Eupulmonata ....
.
Subfamilies in the family Helminthoglyptidae include (according taxonomy of the Gastropoda by Bouchet & Rocroi, 2005
Taxonomy of the Gastropoda (Bouchet & Rocroi, 2005)
The taxonomy of the Gastropoda as it was revised by Philippe Bouchet and Jean-Pierre Rocroi is currently the most up-to-date overall system for classifying gastropod mollusks...
):
Subfamily Helminthoglyptinae Pilsbry, 1939
- tribe Helminthoglyptini Pilsbry, 1939
- subtribe Helminthoglyptina Pilsbry, 1939: the mucus glands lie adjacent to the vagina or to the sheath of the dart apparatus; the ducts of the glands are provided with bulbous reservoirs.
- subtribe Micrariontina Schileyko, 1991: the mucus glands lie adjacent to the dart sac; in part the dart apparatus is missing.
- tribe Sonorelicini Roth, 1996
Subfamily Sonorellinae Pilsbry, 1939: the diverticulum and the dart apparatus are absent.
Genera
Genera within the family Helminthoglyptidae include:Helminthoglyptinae
tribe Helminthoglyptini, subtribe Helminthoglyptina
- HelminthoglyptaHelminthoglyptaHelminthoglypta is a genus of air-breathing land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Helminthoglyptidae.Species within this genus of snails create and use love darts as part of their mating behavior.-Species:...
Ancey, 1887 - type genus of the family Helminthoglyptidae
tribe Helminthoglyptini, subtribe Micrariontina
- MicrariontaMicrariontaMicrarionta is a genus of medium-sized air-breathing land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Helminthoglyptidae.-Species:The genus Micrarionta includes the following species:* Micrarionta facta - concentrated snail...
Ancey, 1880 - type genus of the subtribe Micrariontina
tribe Sonorelicini
- Sonorelix Berry, 1943 - type genus of the tribe Sonorelicini
Sonorellinae
- SonorellaSonorellaSonorella is a genus of land snails, a gastropod in the Helminthoglyptidae family.- Species :Species in the genus Sonorella include:* Sonorella allynsmithi* Sonorella christenseni* Sonorella eremita - San Xavier talussnail...
Pilsbry, 1900 - type genus of the subfamily Sonorellinae
subfamily ?
- Averellia Ancey, 1887
- Cahuillus Roth, 1996
- Cepolis MontfortPierre Denys de MontfortPierre Denys de Montfort, also sometimes spelled "Pierre Dénys de Montfort", was a French naturalist, in particular a malacologist, remembered today for his pioneering inquiries into the existence of the giant squid Architeuthis, which was thought to be an old wives' tale, and for which he was...
, 1810 - Chamaearionta Berry, 1930
- Dialeuca Albers, 1850
- EremariontaEremariontaEremarionta is a genus of air-breathing land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Helminthoglyptidae.-Species:Species within the genus Helminthoglypta include:* white desert snail...
Pilsbry, 1913 - Eremariontoides Miller, 1981
- Greggelix Miller, 1972
- Hemitrochus Swainson, 1840
- Herpeteros Berry, 1947
- HumboldtianaHumboldtianaHumboldtiana is a genus of American air-breathing land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Humboldtianidae.-Anatomy:Snails in this genus create and use love darts as part of their mating behavior....
Ihering, 1892 - Leptarionta Fischer & Crosse, 1872
- Maricopella Roth, 1996
- Mohavelix Berry, 1943
- Myotophallus Pilsbry, 1939
- Noyo Roth, 1996
- Plesarionta Pilsbry, 1939
- PolymitaPolymitaPolymita, is a genus of large, air-breathing land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Helminthoglyptidae.The shell of this species is large, brightly colored, and has numerous color varieties....
Beck, 1837 - Rothelix Miller, 1985
- Setipellis Pilsbry, 1926
- Tryonigens Pilsbry, 1927
- Xanthonyx Crosse & Fischer, 1867
- XerariontaXerariontaXerarionta is a genus of air-breathing land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Helminthoglyptidae.Snails of species within this genus create and use love darts during mating.-Species within the genus Xerarionta:...
Pilsbry, 1913