Laevapex | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | |
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Subfamily: | Planorbinae
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Genus: | Laevapex |
Type species | |
Ancylus fuscus C. B. Adams, 1841
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Species | |
See text |
Laevapex is a genus of small, freshwater, air-breathing limpets, aquatic pulmonate gastropod molluscs in the family Planorbidae, the ram's horn snails and their allies.[2]
The genus has a New World distribution. It is widespread throughout the eastern United States, occurring in lakes and slow-flowing rivers.[3]
These animals have a pallial lung, as do all pulmonate snails, but they also have a false gill or "pseudobranch" which can serve perfectly well as a gill when they are unable to reach the surface for air.[3]
Members of this genus are characterised by their smooth apex.[3]
Species within the genus Laevapex include:[1][2][4]
Walther (2008) considers North American Laevapex monotypic, collectively synonymising L. diaphanus, L. peninsulae and unidentified Laevapex sp. with L. fuscus, the type species.[3]