Otala
Otala punctata
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Heterobranchia
Order: Stylommatophora
Infraorder: Helicoidei
Superfamily: Helicoidea
Family: Helicidae
Genus: Otala
Schumacher, 1817
Synonyms
  • Archelix Albers, 1850 (objective junior synonym)
  • Archelix (Dupotetia) Kobelt, 1904
  • Helix (Archelix) Albers, 1850 (objective junior synonym)
  • Otala (Deserticola) P. Hesse, 1911· accepted, alternate representation
  • Otala (Dupotetia) Kobelt, 1904· accepted, alternate representation
  • Otala (Otala) Schumacher, 1817· accepted, alternate representation
  • † Pachydupotetia Pfeffer, 1930 (junior subjective synonym)
  • Tingitana Pallary, 1919 (junior synonym)

Otala is a genus of land snails in the subfamily Helicinae of the family Helicidae.[1][2]

Archaeological evidence in Morocco indicates the exploitation of O. lactea by ancient Romans as a food source.[3]

Distribution

This genus of snail is native to northwestern Africa and southwestern Europe.

Anatomy

These snails create and shoot love darts as part of their courtship and mating behavior.

Species

Species within the genus Otala include:[4]

Species brought into synonymy

References

  1. ^ Taxonomy of the Genus Otala (2008). Uniprot.
  2. ^ MolluscaBase eds. (2021). MolluscaBase. Otala Schumacher, 1817. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=818443 on 2021-02-14
  3. ^ Hogan, C. M. Volubilis. In: Burnham, A. (ed.) The Megalithic Portal. 2007.
  4. ^ Genus summary for Otala. AnimalBase, accessed 7 August 2009.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Otala.


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