Bradybaenidae
Encyclopedia
Bradybaenidae is a taxonomic family
of medium-sized to small land snail
s, terrestrial
pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the superfamily Helicoidea
.
These snails are found mainly in Asia
, with only one species occurring in Northwestern Europe
: Fruticicola fruticum
.
The name of the family and the genus Bradybaena is derived from the Greek words bradus (= slow) and baino (= walk), meaning "slow walker".
Molecular phylogenetic studies from 2007 showed that bradybaenids are closely related with the Camaenidae
, which are currently recognized as a distinct family. In these studies both Bradybaenidae and Camaenidae
are mutually polyphyletic, together forming a monophyletic group, however. This finding suggests that the distinction of both families as based essentially on the absence (Camaenidae) or presence (Bardybaenidae) of a diverticulum
, is arbitrary. This anatomical structure was apparently lost (or was gained) in several groups in convergence
and is therefore not suitable for the delimitation of natural groups.
As a result, the Bradybaenidae being the younger taxon are likely to represent a junior synonym of the Camaenidae
.
s as part of their mating behavior. The dart sac contains one to two glands. They are also defined by missing a diverticulum
.
In this family, the number of haploid chromosome
s lies between 26 and 30 (according to the values in this table).
:
Genera within the family Bradybaenidae include:
subfamily Bradybaeninae - they are defined by the presence of two divided glands with one to two accessory sacs.
tribe Aegistini
tribe Bradybaenini
tribe Euhadrini
subfamily Helicostylinae - they are defined by the presence of one gland that is being inserted without accessory sac (Tricheulota group) or with accessory sac (Helicostyla group).
The genus Monadenia
Pilsbry, 1895 used to be placed in this family, but it has been moved to the family Xanthonychidae
.
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
of medium-sized to small land snail
Land snail
A land snail is any of the many species of snail that live on land, as opposed to those that live in salt water and fresh water. Land snails are terrestrial gastropod mollusks that have shells, It is not always an easy matter to say which species are terrestrial, because some are more or less...
s, terrestrial
Terrestrial animal
Terrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land , as compared with aquatic animals, which live predominantly or entirely in the water , or amphibians, which rely on a combination of aquatic and terrestrial habitats...
pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the superfamily Helicoidea
Helicoidea
Helicoidea is a taxonomic superfamily of air-breathing land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the clade Stylommatophora.-Families:There are 19 families within the superfamily Helicoidea according to Bouchet & Rocroi .* Helicidae...
.
These snails are found mainly in Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
, with only one species occurring in Northwestern Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
: Fruticicola fruticum
Fruticicola fruticum
Fruticicola fruticum is a species of medium-sized, air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Bradybaenidae.-Shell description:The shell of this species is globular with a deep umbilicus...
.
The name of the family and the genus Bradybaena is derived from the Greek words bradus (= slow) and baino (= walk), meaning "slow walker".
Molecular phylogenetic studies from 2007 showed that bradybaenids are closely related with the Camaenidae
Camaenidae
Camaenidae is a family of air-breathing land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the superfamily Helicoidea.This is one of the most diverse families in the clade Stylommatophora....
, which are currently recognized as a distinct family. In these studies both Bradybaenidae and Camaenidae
Camaenidae
Camaenidae is a family of air-breathing land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the superfamily Helicoidea.This is one of the most diverse families in the clade Stylommatophora....
are mutually polyphyletic, together forming a monophyletic group, however. This finding suggests that the distinction of both families as based essentially on the absence (Camaenidae) or presence (Bardybaenidae) of a diverticulum
Diverticulum
A diverticulum is medical or biological term for an outpouching of a hollow structure in the body. Depending upon which layers of the structure are involved, they are described as being either true or false....
, is arbitrary. This anatomical structure was apparently lost (or was gained) in several groups in convergence
Convergence
-Mathematics:* Convergence , refers to the notion that some functions and sequences approach a limit under certain conditions* Convergence , the notion that a sequence of transformations come to the same conclusion, no matter what order they are performed in.-Natural sciences:*Convergence ,...
and is therefore not suitable for the delimitation of natural groups.
As a result, the Bradybaenidae being the younger taxon are likely to represent a junior synonym of the Camaenidae
Camaenidae
Camaenidae is a family of air-breathing land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the superfamily Helicoidea.This is one of the most diverse families in the clade Stylommatophora....
.
Anatomy
Some genera of snails in this family create and use love dartLove dart
A love dart is a hard, long, sharp, calcareous or chitinous dart which some hermaphroditic land snails and slugs create. Love darts are made in sexually mature animals only, and are used as part of the sequence of events during courtship, before actual mating takes place...
s as part of their mating behavior. The dart sac contains one to two glands. They are also defined by missing a diverticulum
Diverticulum
A diverticulum is medical or biological term for an outpouching of a hollow structure in the body. Depending upon which layers of the structure are involved, they are described as being either true or false....
.
In this family, the number of haploid chromosome
Chromosome
A chromosome is an organized structure of DNA and protein found in cells. It is a single piece of coiled DNA containing many genes, regulatory elements and other nucleotide sequences. Chromosomes also contain DNA-bound proteins, which serve to package the DNA and control its functions.Chromosomes...
s lies between 26 and 30 (according to the values in this table).
Taxonomy
The following two subfamilies have been recognized in the taxonomy of Bouchet & Rocroi (2005)Taxonomy of the Gastropoda (Bouchet & Rocroi, 2005)
The taxonomy of the Gastropoda as it was revised by Philippe Bouchet and Jean-Pierre Rocroi is currently the most up-to-date overall system for classifying gastropod mollusks...
:
- subfamily Bradybaeninae Pilsbry, 1924
- tribe Aegistini Kuroda & Habe, 1949
- tribe Bradybaenini Pilsbry, 1934 - synonyms: Eulotidae Möllendorff, 1898; Fruticicolinae Kobelt, 1904; Buliminopsinae Hoffmann, 1928
- tribe Euhadrini Habe, Okutani & Nishiwaki, 1994
- subfamily Helicostylinae Ihering, 1909 - synonyms: Pfeifferiinae Gray, 1855; Cochlostylidae Möllendorff, 1890
Genera
subfamily Bradybaeninae - they are defined by the presence of two divided glands with one to two accessory sacs.
tribe Aegistini
- AegistaAegistaAegista is a genus of air-breathing land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Bradybaenidae.-Anatomy:Species within this genus create and use love darts as part of their mating behavior.-Distribution:...
Albers, 1850 - Coelorus Pilsbry, 1900
- Lepidopisum Habe, 1957
- MandarinaMandarinaMandarina is a genus of air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Bradybaenidae.Mandarina have been traditionally placed within Camaenidae...
Pilsbry, 1895 - Plectotropis Martens in Albers, 1860
- Trishoplita Jacobi, 1898
tribe Bradybaenini
- Ainohelix Kuroda & Taki, 1933
- BradybaenaBradybaenaBradybaena is a genus of small, air-breathing land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Bradybaenidae.Species of snail within this genus create and use love darts prior to mating.-Distribution:...
Beck, 1837 - for example: Bradybaena similaris, the Asian trampsnailAsian trampsnailBradybaena similaris, common name the Asian trampsnail, , is a species of small, air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Bradybaenidae.... - Cathaica Moellendorff, 1884
- Coccoglypta Pilsbry, 1895
- Eulota Hartmann, 1843
- Ezohelix Kuroda & Emura, 1938
- FruticicolaFruticicolaFruticicola is a genus of medium-sized, air-breathing land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Bradybaenidae.Species of snail in this genus create and use love darts prior to mating.-Species:...
Held, 1838 - for example Fruticicola fruticumFruticicola fruticumFruticicola fruticum is a species of medium-sized, air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Bradybaenidae.-Shell description:The shell of this species is globular with a deep umbilicus... - Laeocathaica Moellendorff, 1899
- Nesiohelix Kuroda & Emura, 1943
- Phaeohelix Kuroda & Habe, 1949
- Plecteulota Moellendorff, 1892
- Ponsadenia Schileyko, 1978
- Pseudiberus Ancey, 1887
- Pseudobuliminus Gredler, 1886
tribe Euhadrini
- EuhadraEuhadraEuhadra is a genus of air-breathing land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Bradybaenidae. ....
Pilsbry, 1890
subfamily Helicostylinae - they are defined by the presence of one gland that is being inserted without accessory sac (Tricheulota group) or with accessory sac (Helicostyla group).
- Calocochlia Hartmann, 1840 (nomen nudumNomen nudumThe phrase nomen nudum is a Latin term, meaning "naked name", used in taxonomy...
) - Cochlostyla Pilsbry, 1895
- HelicostylaHelicostylaHelicostyla is a genus of small, air-breathing land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Bradybaenidae.Helicostyla is the type genus of the subfamily Helicostylinae.-Species:...
Férussac, 1821 - Tricheulota Pilsbry, 1895
The genus Monadenia
Monadenia
Monadenia is a genus of air-breathing land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Monadeniidae.Snails in this genus create and use love darts as part of their mating behavior.-Species:...
Pilsbry, 1895 used to be placed in this family, but it has been moved to the family Xanthonychidae
Xanthonychidae
Xanthonychidae is a family of air-breathing land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the superfamily Helicoidea.This family is within the clade Eupulmonata ....
.