Ferussaciidae

Blind screw ( Cecilioides acicula )

The ground screw ( Cecilioididae, syn. Ferussaciidae ) are a family from the subordination of terrestrial snails ( gastropod ). There are usually small snails that live in the soil. Some species of this group are blind, that is, have reduced eyes.

Features

The housings are high, slender and usually small ( a few millimeters up to max. 18mm). The skin is thin, smooth and shiny, and are often translucent to transparent. The opening is oval to pear-shaped. The animals can retreat completely into the housing. The animals are mostly based on a few, very large, kalkschalige eggs from the hatch after a few days the boys finished ( ovoviviparous ).

Occurrence and life

The family occurs worldwide in temperate and warm latitudes; its main application is in the Mediterranean area. The animals usually live underground in the gap systems of the soil and in boulder fields, rock crevices and caves. Many of the subterranean forms are blind. They feed on decaying plant material.

System

The bottom of the snail family is expected to the superfamily Achatinoidea. The family is ( or Ferrussaciidae based on the false spelling Ferrussacia ) found in almost all older works as Ferussaciidae Bourguignat, 1883. The name Ferussaciidae (or Ferrussaciidae ), however, is a junior synonym of the older name Cecilioididae.

• Ground screw ( Cecilioididae ) (formerly Ferussaciidae ) Genus Ferussacia Risso, 1826 ( with subgenera F. ( Ferussacia ) ) and F. ( Pegea ) Risso, 1826 ( preoccupied )
• Genus Cecilioides Ferussac, 1814 ( with subgenus C. ( Cecilioides ), C. ( Rhaphidiella ) Maltzan, 1886) and C. ( Terebrella ) Maltzan, 1886 (possibly preoccupied )
• Genus Amphorella Lowe, 1856 ( with subgenera A. ( Amphorella ), A. ( Hypselia ) Lowe, 1854, A. ( Fusillus ) Lowe, 1854, A. ( Pyrgella ) Lowe, 1854, A. ( Cylichnidia ) Lowe, 1854)
• Genus Calaxis Bourguignat, 1887
• Genus Coilostele Benson, 1864
• Genus Connollya Odhner, 1932
• Genus Digoniaxis Jousseaume, 1889
• Genus Geostilbia Crosse, 1867
• Genus Hohenwartiana Bourguignat, 1864
• Genus Karolus Folin, 1870
• Genus Pseudocalaxis Pallary, 1912
• Genus Sculptiferussacia Germain, 1911