Dorcasiidae
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Dorcasiidae | ||||||||||||
| Connolly , 1915 |
The Dorcasiidae are a small family of snails from the suborder of land snails (Stylommatophora). The nearly 30 species of the family are geographically restricted to southern Africa.
features
The housings are conical to flattened-conical and of medium size. They are generally poorly ornamented, the embryonic coils are relatively large. The mouth is elliptical with bent mouth edges. Teeth are mostly absent, with the exception of the genus Tulbaghinia (with one species), which has two teeth. In the hermaphroditic genital apparatus, the penis is moderately long. It has a system of pillars on the inner wall, but this can be transformed into a series of elongated nodes or papillae. A short stimulator may be available. The penis retractor sits near the top. The spermatic duct lies close to the penis. The vagina has no attachments. The stem of the spermathec is moderately long and lies close to the spermoviduct.
Geographical distribution and way of life
The representatives of the Dorcasiidae family are geographically restricted to southern Africa. They live there in dry, hot steppe areas with sparse vegetation.
Systematics
Schileyko (1999) lists three genres:
- Dorcasia Gray, 1838
- Trigonephrus Pilsbry, 1905
- Tulbaghinia Melvill & Ponsonby, 1898
swell
Individual evidence
- ^ FW Gess & SK Gess: The use by wasps, bees and spiders of shells of Trigonephrus Pilsb. (Mollusca: Gasteropoda: Dorcasiidae) in desertic winter-rainfall areas in southern Africa. Journal of Arid Environments, 43: 143-153, Kidlington 1999 doi : 10.1006 / jare.1999.0549
literature
- Philippe Bouchet & Jean-Pierre Rocroi: Part 2. Working classification of the Gastropoda . Malacologia, 47: 239-283, Ann Arbor 2005 ISSN 0076-2997
- Anatolij A. Schileyko: Treatise on Recent terrestrial pulmonate molluscs, Part 4 Draparnaudiidae, Caryodidae, Macrocylcidae, Acavidae, Clavatoridae, Dorcasiidae, Sculptariidae, Corillidae, Plectopylidae, Megalobulimidae, Achatinidaocheilidae. Ruthenica, Supplement 2 (4): 437-564, Moscow 1999 ISSN 0136-0027
