Testacella

Taxobox
name = "Testacella"

---

image_width = 230px
image_caption = Shelled Slug, "Testacella haliotidea"
status =
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Mollusca
classis = Gastropoda
ordo = Pulmonata
familia = Testacellidae
genus = "Testacella"
genus_authority = Cuvier, 1800
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision = See text.

"Testacella" is genus of small to medium-large, predatory, air-breathing, land slugs. 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.

Description

These slugs have a very small, ear-shaped shell, which is situated far back on their bodies.

Distribution

Species within this genus of slugs live in western Europe.

Habitat

These slug are rarely observed, but they tend to live in gardens and farms where there is rich soil and a lot of earthworms.

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.
[

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300px|thumb|Drawing_from_1896_depiction_all_three_species_of_
1 - "Testacella ???"
2 - "Testacella ???"
3 - "Testacella maugei"]

pecies within the genus "Testacella"

* "Testacella haliotidea" Draparnaud, 1801 Shelled slug
* "Testacella maugei" Férussac, 1819
* "Testacella scutulum" Sowerby, 1821

References

* [http://wbrc.org.uk/worcrecd/Issue10/testclla.htm]
* [http://www.weichtiere.at/english/gastropoda/terrestrial/testacella.html]
* Janus, Horst, 1965. ‘’The young specialist looks at land and freshwater molluscs’’, Burke, London