Otala punctata | |
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Otala punctata | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Mollusca |
Class: | Gastropoda |
(unranked): | clade Heterobranchia clade Euthyneura |
Superfamily: | Helicoidea |
Family: | Helicidae |
Genus: | Otala |
Species: | O. punctata |
Binomial name | |
Otala punctata (O. F. Müller, 1774) |
Otala punctata is a species of air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Helicidae. They are prepared in a typical dish in South Spain, "cabrillas", cooked in spicy tomato sauce.
This species occurs in Spain.
This species is already established in the USA, and is considered to represent a potentially serious threat as a pest, an invasive species which could negatively effect agriculture, natural ecosystems, human health or commerce. Therefore it has been suggested that this species be given top national quarantine significance in the USA.[1]