Caucasotachea vindobonensis | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Mollusca |
Class: | Gastropoda |
Order: | Stylommatophora |
Family: | Helicidae |
Genus: | Caucasotachea |
Species: | C. vindobonensis |
Binomial name | |
Caucasotachea vindobonensis (C. Pfeiffer, 1828) [2] | |
Caucasotachea vindobonensis is a large species of air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod in the family Helicidae.
The scientific name is derived from the Celtic settlement Vindobona, now known as Vienna, the capital of Austria. This species was formerly assigned to the genus Cepaea . However, DNA sequences revealed that this species is not closely related to Cepaea, but belongs instead to the genus Caucasotachea. [3] [4] [5]
The right-hand coiled, globular shell of C. vindobonensis is 17–21 mm high and 20–25 mm broad with 5.5–6 whorls. [6] In adults, the umbilicus is completely covered. The lip is brown at its inner end becoming pale towards the suture; this distinguishes it from the conchological similar Cepaea hortensis (usually pure white lip) and Cepaea nemoralis (usually a dark brown lip), with which C. vindobonensis often co-occurs. Another difference is that the shell C. vindobonensis has fine growth ridges whereas those of Cepaea are smooth. [7] The shell is whitish or yellowish, with typically 5 brown stripes, of which the upper two are usually weak. The lowermost stripe is nearer to the columella than in Cepaea. [8] There is a slight variation of shell colour within this species (see below). The animal itself is yellowish with grey tentacles.
The native distribution of this species is Pontic, Pannonian and Balkanian. [9] [10]
It occurs in Albania, [1] Austria, [1] Bulgaria, [11] Bosnia and Herzegovina, [1] Croatia, [1] Czech Republic (near threatened (NT) [12] ), [13] Germany (reintroduced), [1] Greece, [1] Hungary, [1] Italy, [1] Latvia, [14] Moldova, [1] Poland, [1] North Macedonia, [1] Romania, [1] Slovakia, [1] Russia (Rostov Oblast, Stavropol Krai, Krasnodar Krai; Moscow Region as an introduction [15] ) Serbia, [11] Slovenia, [1] and Ukraine. [16] [1]
Introduced populations in the United States (New York State) have been known since 2015 and in Canada (Quebec) since 2020. [11]
The original habitat of C. vindobonensis was most probably open forests in the Balkans, from where it spread over large parts of Central and Eastern Europe after the last glaciation. [10] Nevertheless, it also dwells in several grassland habitats like meadows, steppe and ruderal areas, especially in the north of its distribution area. The highest vertical occurrence is about 1600 m asl in Southern Bulgaria. [6]
All the following information originates from a Greek study. [17] Because Greece is in the southernmost part of the distribution area, the phenology for this species might be quite different in the more northerly countries where it is found. Caucasotachea vindobonensis becomes mature after its second year and can reach a maximum life span of about 7 years. The reproductive period lasts from April to June, with a maximum in May. Each year, adults lay about 50 eggs, about 3 mm in diameter, and the juveniles hatch out after 18 days. During hot summer days, these snails rest attached to leaves or the stems of tall plants. Hibernation commences at the end of October to the beginning of November, and the snails come out of hibernation in March.
Helix is a genus of large, air-breathing land snails native to the western Palaearctic and characterized by a globular shell.
The grove snail, brown-lipped snail or lemon snail is a species of air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusc.
The white-lipped snail or garden banded snail, scientific name Cepaea hortensis, is a large species of air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusc in the family Helicidae. The only other species in the genus is Cepaea nemoralis.
Helicidae is a large, diverse family of western Palaearctic, medium to large-sized, air-breathing land snails, sometimes called the "typical snails." It includes some of the largest European land snails, several species are common in anthropogenic habitats, and some became invasive on other continents. A number of species in this family are valued as food items, including Cornu aspersum the brown or garden snail, and Helix pomatia. The biologies of these two species in particular have been thoroughly studied and documented.
Helix lucorum is a species of large, edible, air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Helicidae, the typical snails.
Cepaea is a genus of large air-breathing land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod molluscs in the family Helicidae. The shells are often brightly coloured and patterned with brown stripes. The two species in this genus, C. nemoralis and C. hortensis, are widespread and common in Western and Central Europe and have been introduced to North America. Both have been influential model species for ongoing studies of genetics and natural selection. Like many Helicidae, these snails use love darts during mating.
Vallonia declivis is a species of very small air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Valloniidae.
Stagnicola fuscus is a species of freshwater snail, an aquatic gastropod mollusk in the family Lymnaeidae, the pond snails.
Helicodonta obvoluta is a species of air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Helicodontidae.
Vitrina pellucida is species of small land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Vitrinidae, the glass snails.
Pupilla muscorum, commonly known as the Moss Chrysalis snail or widespread column, is a species of minute air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk or micromollusk in the family Pupillidae.
Monacha is a genus of air-breathing land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the subfamily Trochulininae Lindholm, 1927 of the family Hygromiidae, the hairy snails and their allies.
Brephulopsis cylindrica is a species of air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Enidae.
Macularia sylvatica is a medium-sized species of air-breathing dextral land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusc in the family Helicidae. It was once seen as a close relative of the grove snail, but does in fact not belong to the genus Cepaea at all.
Caucasotachea is a genus of medium-sized air-breathing land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod molluscs in the family Helicidae.
Levantina is a genus of air-breathing land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the subfamily Helicinae of the family Helicidae, the typical snails.