Tudorella sulcata (Draparnaud, 1805) Main synonym = Pomatias sulcatus (Draparnaud, 1805) |
Taxonomical Classification: Animalia / Mollusca / Gastropoda / Littorinoidea / Pomatiidae |
English name not known Maltese name not known |
Worldwide distribution: |
Frequency in Malta: |
Status: |
Habitat: |
Further Information: It a quite common snail foind in garigue, rocky areas, under stones, steppe, and cliffs. It\'s shell has a distinct shape, and can be pale to greyish-purple. Empty shells often get paler and almost white.
It is the only Maltese snail that the opening has a lid (operculum).
Scientific studies suggest that the species in Malta is endemic, and have been described as Tudorella melitense (Sowerby, 1843). The Maltese specimens vary slightly in being a bit more violet in colour, and smaller from the average size of Tudorella sulcata.
A closely related species is Pomatias elegans which is only present in San Anton Gardens and thought to have been introduced with horticultural import. Differences occur in both the male and female genital systems and in the radula where the central and lateral teeth have more denticles in T. sulcata (P. sulcatus) than in P. elegans. |
Special contributor, data input & photos for the Mollusca section courtesy of Owen Mifsud |
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