Schizoglossa

Schizoglossa
Drawing of dorsal view of alcohol preserved specimen of Schizoglossa novoseelandica.
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
(unranked): clade Heterobranchia

clade Euthyneura
clade Panpulmonata
clade Eupulmonata
clade Stylommatophora
informal group Sigmurethra
Superfamily: Rhytidoidea
Family: Rhytididae
Genus: Schizoglossa
Hedley, 1893[1]
Species

See text.

Schizoglossa, common name Paua slug, is a genus of medium-sized to large predatory, air-breathing, land slugs, carnivorous terrestrial pulmonate gastropod molluscs in the family Rhytididae.

Contents

Species and subspecies

Species and subspecies within the genus Schizoglossa include[2]:

Description

The shell is small, rudimentary, auriform and is worn on the tail. The shell is incapable of containing the body, and is reduced to the function of a shield to the lungs and heart, rudimentary, paucispiral, nacreous within. The columella is excavated into a pit for the reception of the shell-muscle.[1]

The animal has no rachidian teeth.[1]

Ecology

Schizoglossa have eggs with a calcareous surface which lacks cuticle.[3]

References

This article incorporates public domain text from reference.[1]

  1. ^ a b c d Hedley C. (16 March 1893) "Schizoglossa: a new genus of carnivorous snails". Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 7(III): 387-392. Linnean Society of New South Wales. Plate IX-X.
  2. ^ New Zealand Mollusca
  3. ^ O'Connor A. C. (June) 1945. Notes on the Eggs of New Zealand Paryphantidae, With Description of a New Subgenus. Transactions of the Royal Society of New Zealand, volume 5, 1945-46, pages 54-57.

Further reading