Testacella
Encyclopedia
Testacella is genus
of small to medium-large, predatory, air-breathing, land slug
s. They are terrestrial
gastropod mollusks in the family Testacellidae, the shelled slugs. They are not often seen because they live underground.
Testacella is the only genus in the family, in other words it is a monotypic
family. Testacella is the type genus
of the family Testacellidae.
to Britain.
subgenus Testacella Draparnaud, 1801
subgenus Testacelloides A. J. Wagner, 1914
, which is situated far back on their bodies.
In the family Testacellidae, the number of haploid chromosome
s lies between 31 and 35 (according to the values in this table).
s.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of small to medium-large, predatory, air-breathing, land slug
Slug
Slug is a common name that is normally applied to any gastropod mollusc that lacks a shell, has a very reduced shell, or has a small internal shell...
s. They are terrestrial
Terrestrial animal
Terrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land , as compared with aquatic animals, which live predominantly or entirely in the water , or amphibians, which rely on a combination of aquatic and terrestrial habitats...
gastropod mollusks in the family Testacellidae, the shelled slugs. They are not often seen because they live underground.
Testacella is the only genus in the family, in other words it is a monotypic
Monotypic
In biology, a monotypic taxon is a taxonomic group with only one biological type. The term's usage differs slightly between botany and zoology. The term monotypic has a separate use in conservation biology, monotypic habitat, regarding species habitat conversion eliminating biodiversity and...
family. Testacella is the type genus
Type genus
In biological classification, a type genus is a representative genus, as with regard to a biological family. The term and concept is used much more often and much more formally in zoology than it is in botany, and the definition is dependent on the nomenclatural Code that applies:* In zoological...
of the family Testacellidae.
Distribution
Species within this genus of slugs live in north Africa, from southern and western EuropeEurope
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
to Britain.
Species
Species within the genus Testacella include:subgenus Testacella Draparnaud, 1801
- Testacella bisulcata Risso, 1826
- Testacella haliotidea DraparnaudJacques Philippe Raymond DraparnaudJacques Philippe Raymond Draparnaud was a French naturalist, malacologist and botanist.Draparnaud is considered the father of malacology in France...
, 1801 - Shelled slugShelled SlugThe shelled slug, Testacella haliotidea, is a rarely seen, air-breathing, carnivorous land slug, a terrestrial gastropod mollusk in the family Testacellidae, the shelled slugs.-Description:...
, type species - Testacella maugeiTestacella maugeiTestacella maugei is a species of air-breathing, carnivorous land slug, a terrestrial gastropod mollusk in the family Testacellidae, the shelled slugs....
Férussac, 1819 - Testacella riedeli Giusti, Manganelli & Schembri, 1995
- Testacella scutulumTestacella scutulumTestacella scutulum is an air-breathing, carnivorous land slug, a terrestrial gastropod mollusk in the family Testacellidae, the shelled slugs....
Sowerby, 1821
subgenus Testacelloides A. J. Wagner, 1914
- Testacella gestroi Issel, 1873
Description
These slugs have a very small, ear-shaped shellGastropod shell
The gastropod shell is a shell which is part of the body of a gastropod or snail, one kind of mollusc. The gastropod shell is an external skeleton or exoskeleton, which serves not only for muscle attachment, but also for protection from predators and from mechanical damage...
, which is situated far back on their bodies.
In the family Testacellidae, the number of haploid chromosome
Chromosome
A chromosome is an organized structure of DNA and protein found in cells. It is a single piece of coiled DNA containing many genes, regulatory elements and other nucleotide sequences. Chromosomes also contain DNA-bound proteins, which serve to package the DNA and control its functions.Chromosomes...
s lies between 31 and 35 (according to the values in this table).
Habitat
These slugs are rarely observed, but they tend to live in gardens and farms where there is rich soil and a lot of earthwormEarthworm
Earthworm is the common name for the largest members of Oligochaeta in the phylum Annelida. In classical systems they were placed in the order Opisthopora, on the basis of the male pores opening posterior to the female pores, even though the internal male segments are anterior to the female...
s.
Life habits
These slugs live underground and hunt earthworms. They are usually only seen when they are forced up to the surface because the soil has become completely saturated with rain.