Zonites algirus

Giant glass snail ( Zonites algirus ( Linnaeus, 1758) )

The giant glass snail ( Zonites algirus ) is a Landschneckenart from the family of giant snails gloss ( Zonitidae ); this is provided in the subordination of terrestrial snails ( gastropod ). The giant glass snail is one of the greatest representatives of the family.

Features

The housings are flattened - flat cone-shaped and reach the adult stage a diameter up to 5.5 cm. The umbilicus is wide and open. In the young stages of the whorls are keeled, the last whorl is rounded. The top shows granular growth lines, the underside is shiny with coarse growth lines. The color varies from light yellow to dark brown.

Occurrence, lifestyle and dissemination

The giant glass snail lives in forests, semi- open areas, vineyards, under stones, hedges, bushes buried in the ground. The animals feed on organic detritus. The type was probably originally restricted to the Peloponnese, Kythira, Lesbos and the west coast of Asia Minor at Pergamon. The giant glass snail was probably kidnapped in ancient times to the shores of Southern France, Liguria and Puglia (Italy). Maybe it is already extinct again in Liguria. A small deposit was recently found on a small island in the Sea of ​​Marmara, near Istanbul.

System

Zonites algirus is the type species of the genus Zonites Montfort, 1810.