Parmacellidae

Cryptella canariensis

The Mantelschnegel ( Parmacellidae ) are a family of terrestrial snails ( gastropod ). The first representatives of the family are described from the Eocene Baltic amber ( Parmacella succini ). Further findings have been reported from the Lower Pliocene ..

Features

The species of the family are usually large animals are stretched from about 10 cm long. The cladding plate occupies about half of the total body length. The foot has a keel on the top. There is a narrow slit through which the visceral sac through a thin skin is visible between the foot and the mantle shield. The housing is covered by the mantle shield and consists of the coiled rolled Embryonalgehäuse and the plate-like post-embryonic part. Just hatched juveniles can still retreat to the embryonic body. Then it is overgrown by the mantle shield. Even later, the animals can retreat even under these rather large mantle shield. The breathing hole is quite large and is located on the right side at the back of the mantle shield.

Lifestyle and deposits

The family is widespread in southern Europe from Portugal to the west across North Africa to the Caucasus, northern Iran to Central Asia. Also in the Canary Islands occur several ways. The animals are herbivores and nocturnal. They prefer to live in semi-natural, dry habitats, rare in gardens and parks in the vicinity of settlements.

System

The Mantelschnegel family contains only a few genera with about 15 species:

• Parmacella Cuvier, 1804
• Cryptella Webb & Berthelot, 1833
• Candaharia Godwin - Austen, 1888
• Levandera (usually only subgenus of Candaharia )

Actually, the name Cryptellidae Gray, 1855, the oldest scientific name for this family. However, he fell into oblivion and be regarded as a nomen must oblitum ( forgotten name). Thus the name Parmacellidae remains valid.