- Otala lactea
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Otala lactea Otala lactea Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Mollusca Class: Gastropoda (unranked): clade Heterobranchia
clade Euthyneura
clade Panpulmonata
clade Eupulmonata
clade Stylommatophora
informal group SigmurethraSuperfamily: Helicoidea Family: Helicidae Genus: Otala Species: O. lactea Binomial name Otala lactea
(Müller, 1774)Otala lactea,[1] common names, the milk snail, or Spanish snail, is a large, edible species[2] of air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Helicidae. Archaeological recovery at the Volubilis illustrates prehistoric exploitation of O. lactea by humans.[3]
Synonyms include Helix lactea and Iberus alonensis.
Contents
Distribution
This species of snail is native to Europe and parts of North Africa. It has been introduced to the USA, including Arizona and Florida, and to Bermuda, Cuba, southeastern Australia.
Anatomy
This snail creates and uses love darts as part of its courtship behaviour, prior to mating. Also, the name Heterobranchia suggests that O. lactea has two kinds of gills.
References
External links
- Images: [3]
- More images: [4]
- Otala lactea on the UF / IFAS Featured Creatures Web site
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