Rank Genus | Scientific name Pleurocera | |
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Lower classifications Pleurocera acuta, Rough hornsnail, Skirted hornsnail, Rugged hornsnail, Telescope hornsnail | ||
Pleurocera is a genus of freshwater snails with an operculum, aquatic gastropod mollusks in the family Pleuroceridae.
Contents
Pleurocera is the type genus of that family.
Distribution
All members of the genus Pleurocera are native to eastern North America.
Description
All of the species in this genus have thick-walled high-spired shells, and some attain a length of over 4 cm. The shape of the shell is elongate-conic or cylindrical. The sculpture of the shell is often carinate or costate. The shell of larger species sometimes develops sculpturing and a small siphonal canal or siphonal notch at the base of the aperture.
Opercula are paucispiral and corneous, but may be vestigial in some species, not completely closing the aperture.
The soft parts of the animal usually have a gray or brown coloration, commonly speckled with orange. The similar genus Juga has a seminal receptacle, but Pleurocera has no seminal receptacle.
Species
Species within the genus Pleurocera include: (brackets needs to be checked, authorities according to the IUCN Red List may be incorrect)
Ecology
Most species inhabit larger rivers.
Pleurocera snails are dioecious.
