Kingdom Animalia Superfamily Orthalicoidea Genus Amphibulima Phylum Mollusca | Class Gastropoda Family Amphibulimidae Scientific name Amphibulima patula Rank Species | |
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Similar Amphibulima browni, Amphicyclotulus, Omalonyx, Zachrysia provisoria, Drymaeus | ||
Amphibulima patula is a species of air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Amphibulimidae.
Contents
Subspecies
Subspecies of Amphibulima patula include:
Comparison of orange-yellowish and dark brown Amphibulima patula dominicensis:
Distribution
The nominate taxon Amphibulima patula patula has been reported from Guadeloupe (probably now extinct) and Marie-Galante. The type locality is Guadeloupe.
Amphibulima patula dominicensis is endemic to Dominica.
Another variety has been reported from Saint Kitts and Saba.
Description
Amphibulima patula has large foot, that is not completely retracted into the shell in living specimen. But when the live animal is immersed into the preserving fluid, then it retracts completely within the shell.
Adult snail is about 2.5 cm. It is called a slug-like snail because the shell is relatively small in proportion to the body and with one large, ear-like whorl and two small whorls. Color is yellowish brown.
This species could be confused with the common amber snails (Succinea), especially the juveniles. The Amphibulima has much coarser sculpture than the amber snails.
The jaw and radula of Amphibulima patula dominicensis was described by Bland & Binney in 1874.
Ecology
Amphibulima patula dominicensis is frequently found on banana and Citrus plants, where it may feed on the leaves. They also eat leaves of Virginia pepperweed Lepidium virginicum and Cakile lanceolata. They eat lettuce in captivity.