Latia neritoides

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Latia neritoides
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropod
Subclass: Orthogastropoda
Superorder: Heterobranchia
Order: Pulmonata
Suborder: Basommatophora
Family: Latiidae
Genus: Latia
Species: L. neritoides
Binomial name
Latia neritoides
Gray, 1850
Synonyms

Pelex lateralis Gould, 1852
Latia petitiana Fischer, 1856
Pelex lateralis Fischer, 1856
Latia gassiesiana Fischer, 1856

Latia neritoides is a species of small freshwater snail or limpet, an aquatic gastropod mollusc in the family Latiidae.

There is no fossil record of this species genus or family, so there is currently not enough information available to be able to understand its exact evolutionary origins.

Contents

[edit] Distribution

This species is endemic to the North Island of New Zealand.

[edit] Habitat

This freshwater limpet is found on the underside of stones in clean-running streams and rivers.

[edit] Shell description

The shell is broadly ovate, of low profile, and with the apex marginal, at the left posterior side.

The shell coloration is pale to dark brown, or black, with a white internal septum somewhat similar to that of a slipper shell.

The shell length is up to 11 mm, width 8 mm, and height 4.5 mm.

[edit] Life habits

These animals have a pallial lung, as do all pulmonate snails, but they also have a false gill or "pseudobranch". This serves as a gill as, in their non-tidal habitat, these limpets never reach the surface for air.

When disturbed, the animal releases a bright green, light-emitting cloud. This is a unique bioluminescence system, but although being studied since 1880, the exact mechanism is still unclear.

These limpets feed upon the surface film covering the rocks on which they live, consisting of algae, bacteria and fungus. Little else is known about their biology.

[edit] References