Attenborougharion rubicundus

Attenborougharion rubicundus
Conservation status
Vulnerable  (IUCN 2.3) [1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Gastropoda
Order:	Stylommatophora
Family:	Helicarionidae
Subfamily:	Helicarioninae
Genus:	Attenborougharion Hyman & Köhler, 2017
Species:	A. rubicundus
Binomial name
Attenborougharion rubicundus (Dartnall & Kershaw, 1978)
Synonyms [2]
Helicarion rubicundusDartnall & Kershaw, 1978

Attenborougharion rubicundus is a species of air-breathing semi-slug, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod molluscs in the family Helicarionidae.

It has been referred to as the "burgundy snail", ^[1] but should not be confused with Helix pomatia , which is also known by that name.

Taxonomy

This species was described under the name Helicarion rubicundus in 1978. ^[3] The species was reassigned from genus Helicarion to Attenborougharion its own monotypic genus, named after David Attenborough, in 2017 by researchers at the Australian Museum. ^[4] The description of this genus was formally published on 9 August 2017. ^[5]

Distribution

This species is endemic to Australia, and is known only from the Forestier Peninsula and a small portion of the Tasman Peninsula on the island of Tasmania. ^[5]

Description

These semi-slugs are about 27.5–45 mm in length and are bright green and bright red. ^[5] The species has a flattened body and their reproductive system has an irregular shape compared to the usual V-shaped rows. ^[6]

See also

• List of things named after David Attenborough and his works

References

1. Smith B. (1996). Helicarion rubicundus. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 7 August 2007.
2. "Attenborougharion rubicundus (Dartnall & Kershaw, 1978)". Global Biodiversity Information Facility . Retrieved 8 May 2025.
3. Dartnall, A. J., & Kershaw R. C. (1978). "Description of a new species of Helicarion (Stylommatophora: Helicarionidae) in Tasmania". Records of the Queen Victoria Museum 62: 1–18.
4. Love, Madelaine (2017-02-07). "Native Tasmanian snail named after Sir David Attenborough". The Australian Museum. Retrieved 2017-02-09.
5. Hyman, I.; Köhler, F. (2017). "Attenborougharion gen. nov. (Mollusca: Pulmonata: Helicarionidae): a likely case of convergent evolution in southeastern Tasmania" (PDF). Records of the Australian Museum. 69 (2): 65–72. doi: 10.3853/j.2201-4349.69.2017.1676 .
6. Hyman, Isabel T.; Köhler, Frank (2017-08-09). "Attenborougharion gen. nov. (Mollusca: Pulmonata: Helicarionidae): a likely case of convergent evolution in southeastern Tasmania". Records of the Australian Museum. 69 (2): 65–72. doi:10.3853/j.2201-4349.69.2017.1676. ISSN   2201-4349.

External links

• Otley H.M. (1999). Survey report for the burgundy snail (Helicarion rubicundus) on the Forestier and Tasman Peninsulas. Report to Forestry Tasmania. source list 23 April 2008
• Taylor R.J. (1991). "Distribution and habitat of Helicarion rubicundus (Pulmonata: Helicarionidae), a rare land snail". Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania 125: 27-28. source list 23 April 2008