DESCRIPTION OF LAND SNAIL SPECIES

The following snail descriptions are intended to confirm the identification made using the keys. The description should fit your specimen. If it doesn’t, look more closely at the specimen and try the key again. The species name is followed by the name of the scientist and the date the description was published. A name and date in parentheses indicates that the original name was in a different genus.

There are two major subclasses of land snails. These are the Prosobranchia and the Pulmonata. They are easy to tell apart as you will see in a minute.

The land snail fauna of Madagascar is remarkable in the large size of the species and their endemism. The fauna of Ranomafana is:

Subclass Prosobranchia (Operculates)

The Prosobranchia only have a single set of tentacles, the eye is located at the base of the tentacle, there is a door called an operculum which can seal the animal within the shell, they breathe by gills, and the sexes are in separate animals (bisexual). The Prosobranchia are often referred to as Operculates. In general, operculate land snails have a round aperture and solid shells, frequently with spiral ridges.

4-Family CYCLOPHORIDAE

This family occurs in the tropical parts of southeastern Asia, India, Madagascar, and Africa. There are seven genera in Madagascar but only two are in the park.

Acroptychia aequivoca (Pfeiffer, 1857)

Size: 10-30 mm
Description: Shell is helicoid with a reflected lip and wide umbilicus. The shell is encircled with three obscure red-brown bands. The aperture is circular and the inner lip is blood-red, outer lip reflected.
Whorls: 5˝.
Animal:
Distribution: Found at Ekongo and the south, east, and northeast of Madagascar.
Observations: In eastern forests with a large altitude range from the coast to the central highlands.
Etymology:


Fig 5-1a Acroptychia aequivoca

Hainesia crocea (Sowerby, 1847)

Size: 30+ mm
Description: Shell is conical with a reflected lip and perforate. There is a radial color pattern.
Whorls: 7-8
Animal:
Distribution: Southern Madagascar
Observations: The living and fossil specimens are in the southern coastal region.
Etymology: “crocea” means saffron or yellow.



Fig 5-2a Hainesia crocea

 

15-Family POMATIASIDAE

In contrast with Africa having a paucity of operculate land snails, Madagascar has two genera and an abundance of species.

The genus Tropidophora is “almost” an endemic. It also occurs in the Comors, Seychelles, and southeastern Africa. The genus has 96 species of which 95 or 99% are endemic to Madagascar. The following taxa may be found at Ranomafana.

Tropidophora perinetensis Fischer-Piette & Bedoucha, 1965

Size: Height 18 and width 17 mm.
Description: Shell is helicoidal with a refexed lip and perforate. The shell has multiple spiral ribs above and below the periphery.
Whorls: 5
Animal:
Distribution: Species of the dense eastern humid forest of average altitude.
Observations:
Etymology: Named for the type locality of Perinet northeast of Antananarivo.


Fig 5-3a Tropidophera perinetensis

Tropidophora semidecussata var. semidecussata (Pfeiffer, 1847)

Size: 10-30 mm.
Description: Shell has single spiral band just below the periphery. Shell is smooth and without sculpture.
Whorls: 6
Animal:
Distribution:
Observations:
Etymology:


Fig 5-4a Tropidophera semidecussata semidecussata

Tropidophora semidecussata var. aplustre (Sowerby, 1849)

Size: Height 20-27 and width 23-31 mm.
Description: Shell is helicoidal with a reflected lip and wide umbilicus. There are multi equal weighted spiral bands above and below the periphery.
Whorls: 6
Animal:
Distribution:
Observations: Differs from T. s. s. by the number of spiral bands.
Etymology: “aplustre” has reference to the stern of a ship.


Fig 5-5a Tropidophora semidecussata aplustre

Tropidophora semidecussata var. macareae (Petit, 1853)

Size: Height 19 and width 30 mm.
Description: Shell is depressed with a reflected lip and wide umbilicus. Shell has more than 1 spiral bands.
Whorls: 6
Animal:
Distribution:
Observations:
Etymology: Probably named for a person.


Fig 5-6a Tropidophora semidecussata macareae

Tropidophora semidecussata var. paulucciae (Crosse & Fischer, 1882)

Size: Height 13 and width 20.5 mm.
Description: Shell depressed with a reflected lip and wide umbilicus. There are multi spiral bands above and below the periphery. The peripheral band is darker. The lip is reflected and the shell is wide umbilicate.
Whorls: 6
Animal:
Distribution:
Observations:
Etymology: Probably named for a person.


Fig 5-7a Tropidophora semidecussata paulucciae

Tropidophora semidecussata var. pauluccioides Fischer-Piette & Blanc & Blanc & Salvat, 1993

Size: Height 22 and width 33 mm.
Description: Shell is depressed with a reflected lip and wide umbilicus.
Whorls: 6
Animal:
Distribution:
Observations: It is distinguished from paulucciae by the more expanded outer lip. The specimens of this subspecies are larger than paulucciae.
Etymology: Probably named for a person.


Fig 5-8a Tropidophora semidecussata pauluccoides

Tropidophora semidecussata var. volvuloides (Sowerby, 1850)

Size: 10-30 mm.
Description: Shell is helicoid with a reflected lip and wide umbilicus. Shell has single spiral band and spiral ridges.
Whorls: 6
Animal:
Distribution:
Observations:
Etymology:


Fig 5-9a Tropidophora semidecussata volvuloides

Tropidophora tricarinata var. bicarinata (Sowerby, 1843)

Size: Height 35 and width 76 mm.
Description: Shell is depressed with a reflected lip and umbilicate. There are many spiral bands with a darker one on the periphery and another above the periphery (these are sometimes raised).
Whorls:
Animal:
Distribution: Found at RNP.
Observations:
Etymology: The name means “two keeled” in referenced to the periphery of the shell.


Fig 5-10a Tropidophora tricarinata bicarinata


Fig 5-10b Tropidophora tricarinata bicarinata

Subclass PULMONATA

The Pulmonates have two sets of tentacles, the eyes are at the tip of the upper pair, there is no operculum, they breathe by lungs, and both sexes are present in each individual (hermaphrodites).

96-Family SUBULINIDAE

The Subulinidae are a family of elongate snails which is widespread throughout most tropical and warm temperate regions. The animal is usually pale-colored.

Curvella poutiersi Fischer-Piette & Blanc & Blanc & Salvat, 1994

Size: Height 12.2 and width 3.2 mm.
Description: Shell is conical with a straight lip. The columella is not truncated. Radial ribs are present.
Whorls: 9
Animal:
Distribution:
Observations: In dense eastern primary and secondary forests. Loves shade.
Etymology: Probably named for a person.


Fig 5-11a Curvella poutiersi

Lamellaxis gracilis (Hutton, 1834)

Size: Height 10 and width 3 mm.
Description: Shell is transparent or pale colored conical with a straight lip. The columella is not truncated.
Whorls: 12.
Animal:
Distribution: Everywhere in tropics.
Observations: Native to India but has been introduced everywhere in the tropics.
Etymology: “gracilis” means slender or thin.


Fig 5-12a Lamellaxis gracilis


Fig 5-12b Lamellaxis gracilis

Subulina mamillata (Craven, 1880)

Size: Height 19-21 and width 4.5 mm.
Description: Shell is conical with a straight lip. The columella is not truncated and the shell surface has small projections.
Whorls: 11
Animal:
Distribution: Widespread except in the south. Similar distribution to S. octona.
Observations:
Etymology: Named mamillata because of the small projections on the shell surface.


Fig 5-13a Subulina mamiliata


Fig 5-13b Subulina mamiliata

Subulina octona (Bouguiere, 1792)

Size: Height 19 and with 5 mm.
Description: Shell is conical, thin, translucent with a yellowish cast. Very glossy and with a straight lip and a truncated columella.
Whorls: 9.
Animal: Yellow
Distribution: Native to Caribbean but has been introduced worldwide in the tropics. Found at RNP.
Observations: Commonly found under wood near human habitation. “Reproduction begins before the shell has attained two-thirds its maximum size, and usually several eggs may be seen through the shell within the penultimate whorl. The egg-capsules are hard-shelled, white and flattened, measuring 1.8 x 1.5 mm.” [Pilsbry 1946, pg 174]
Etymology:


Fig 5-14a Subulina octona


Fig 5-14b Subulina octona

97-Family ACHATINIDAE

This family which is so well represented in Africa is poorly represented in Madagascar. The genus Achatina has two introduced species one of which is at Ranomafana.

Achatina fulica (Bowdich, 1822)

Size: Height 94 to 123 and width 45 to 60 mm.
Description: Has a large bulimoid shell with a truncated columella and with irregular brown and cream blotches and zig-zag stripes.
Whorls: Usually with 7 or 8 whorls.
Animal: Usually dark colored.
Distribution: Native to East Africa and introduced world wide in the tropics. In many cases it was introduced as a food source but has become a great agricultural pest. Found in RNP along highway.
Observations: Usually found near present or former human habitation.
Etymology: “fulica” means coot


Fig 5-15a Achatina fulica


Fig 5-15b Achatina fulica


Fig 5-15c Achatina fulica


Fig 5-15d Achatina fulica

101-Family SPIRAXIDAE

The Spiraxidae are a carnivorous family of tropical and subtropical America and the Mediterranean region. The shells are large, elongate, imperforate, and have a truncated columella. They insert themselve into the aperture of their prey.

Euglandina rosea (Ferussac, 1821)

Size: Height 76 and width 27.5 mm.
Description: Shell is fusiform with a straight lip and imperforate. The columella is truncated and the pink or rose colored whorls have strong growth ridges.
Whorls: 6
Animal:
Distribution: Native to Florida but has been introduced in the tropics to “control” the introduced Achatina fulica.
Observations: Euglandina is an active, aggressive predator of other land snails.
Etymology: “rosea” means rosy because of the shell color.


Fig 5-16a Euglandina rosea

Streptostele manumbensis (Emberton, 1994)

Size: Height 26.3 and width 7.2 mm.
Description: Shell is conical with a reflected lip and perforate. Growth lines are present.
Whorls: Multi-whorled
Animal:
Distribution: Known only from type locality.
Observations:
Etymology: Named for Manombo village, home of the unidentified collector of the species.


Fig 5-17a Streptostele manumbensis

104-Family STREPTAXIDAE

A family of carnivorous snails that is widely distributed throughout the tropical and sub-tropical regions. They insert themselves into the aperture of their prey.

Edentulina ovoidea (Bruguiere, 1789)

Size: Height 31.5 and width 16 mm.
Description: Shell is bulimoid with a reflected lip.
Whorls: 7
Animal:
Distribution: Comores, Madagascar, and East Africa. Found at RNP in Vohiparara.
Observations: It is not known if it originally occurred in Madagascar or it was introduced from Mayotte (Comoro Islands) to control (eat) the Achatina.
Etymology:


Fig 5-18a Edentulina ovoidea

108-Family ACAVIDAE

This is a widespread tropical family with large shells. In Madagascar the family consists of 5 genera and many species. It includes the largest individuals to be found in Madagascar. The four genera in Ranomafana are Ampelita, Clavator, Helicophanta, and Leucotaenius.

Ampelita is an endemic genus with a large umbilicate shell and 67 species. The depressed shell and reflected aperture lip make the genus easy to recognize.

Ampelita duvalii (Saussaye, 1844)

Size: Height 22 and width 41 mm.
Description: Shell is depressed with reflected lip and wide umbilicate. Can have one or two spiral bands.
Whorls: 8
Animal:
Distribution:
Observations: Widespread in many habitats – from dry to humid forests.
Etymology: Probably named for a person.


Fig 5-19a Ampelita duvalii


Fig 5-19b Ampelita duvalii


Fig 5-19c Ampelita duvalii

Ampelita percyana (Smith, 1880)

Size: Height 18 and width 31 mm.
Description: Shell is depressed with a reflected lip. Shell has both a spiral and radial color pattern.
Whorls: 4.
Animal:
Distribution: Southeast Madagascar
Observations:
Etymology: Probably named for a person.


Fig 5-20a Ampelita percyana

Ampelita ranomafana (Emberton, 1999)

Size: Height 12.9 and width 28.2 mm.
Description: Shell is depressed with a slightly reflected lip. Shell has spiral grooves and an angular periphery outline.
Whorls: 4.1
Animal:
Distribution: Ambatolahy
Observations:
Etymology: Named for Ranomafana National Park adjacent to the type locality.


Fig 5-21a Ampelita ranomafana

Ampelita sepulcralis var. alba Fischer-Piette & Garreau, 1965

Size:
Description: Similar to A. souverniana souverbiana except either the first three whorls are white or the last whorl is white.
Whorls: 4 ˝ - 5
Animal:
Distribution:
Observations:
Etymology: “alba” means white.

Fig - Never illustrated.

Ampelita sepulcralis var. lethifera (Crosse & Fischer, 1890)

Size:
Description: Shell is depressed with a reflected lip and wide umbilicus. Shell has no color pattern but is unicolor black. The inside of the aperture isbluish-white.
Whorls: 4 ˝-5
Animal:
Distribution:
Observations:
Etymology:


Fig 5-23a Ampelita sepulcralis lethifera

Ampelita sepulcralis var. olivacea (Pilsbry, 1890)

Size:
Description: Shell is depressed with a reflected lip and wide umbilicate. Shell has two spiral bands.
Whorls: 4 ˝-5
Animal:
Distribution:
Observations:
Etymology: “olivacea” means of the olive or oily.


Fig 5-24a Ampelita sepulcralis olivacea


Fig 5-24b Ampelita sepulcralis olivacea

Ampelita sepulcralis var. sepulcralis (Ferussac, 1821)

Size: Height 20 to 23 and width 39 to 48 mm.
Description: Shell is depressed with a reflected lip and wide umbilicate. Shell with single, multiple, or no spiral color bands.
Whorls: 4-5
Animal:
Distribution:
Observations:
Etymology: tomb, sepulchral


Fig 5-25a Ampelita sepulcralis sepulcralis

Ampelita watersi (Angas, 1877)

Size: Height 18 and width 41 mm.
Description: Shell is depressed with reflected lip and umbilicate. Shell has radial color bands.
Whorls: 4 and rapidly increasing in size.
Animal: Dark foot.
Distribution: Southeast Madagascar; found at RNP.
Observations:
Etymology: Probably named for a person.


Fig 5-26a Ampelita watersi


Fig 5-26b Ampelita watersi

Ampelita xystera (Valenciennes in Pfeiffer, 1841)

Size: Height 28 and width 57 to 63 mm.
Description: Shell depressed with reflected lip and wide umbilicate. Whorls have single spiral band or none.
Whorls: 4
Animal:
Distribution:
Observations: In dense humid evergreen forests of low to middle altitudes.
Etymology: “Xyster” is Greek for scraper.


Fig 5-27a Ampelita xystera


Fig 5-27b Ampelita xystera

The genus Clavator with 11 species has a large fusiform shell with a reflected lip. In Latin “clavator” means club-bearer.

Clavator eximius (Shuttleworth, 1852)

Size: Height 120 and width 40 mm.
Description: Shell is conical with a straight lip. Aperture is vertically elongated.
Whorls: 8
Animal:
Distribution: Found at RNP.
Observations: In dense humid forest of middle altitude and the mountains to 2100 meters.
Etymology: “eximius” means exceptional, uncommon, extraordinary.



Fig 5-28a Clavator eximius


Fig 5-28b Clavator eximius


Fig 5-28c Clavator eximius shell

The Helicophanta also with 11 species is the most conspicuous genus seen. The shells are large, depressed or bulimoid, and abundant. The depressed species have a protoconch which is 1/3 the diameter of the shell. The young emerge from an egg almost the size of a chicken egg. The name is a combination of the Greek “helix” meaning coil and “phantos” meaning visible.


Fig 5-29a Helicophanta have a protoconch more than 1/3 diameter of the shell.

 

SPECIES
HGT
WIDTH
UMB
BANDS(type)
ANIMAL
WHL
gargantua
79
91
imp
none
?
4.5
ibaraoensis
50
77
imp
many;5 dkr
dark
4.5
souverbiana souverbiana
45
70-80
imp
4-5 wide
?
4
bicingulata
35
76
perf
many;2 dkr
dark
4
souverbiana sp "2"
57
78
rimate
2 wide
yel-brn
4
souverbiana audiberti
43
77
rimate
1 wide
yel-brn
4

Fig 5-29b Helicophanta summary table

Helicophanta bicingulata (Smith, 1882)

Size: Height 35 and width 76 mm.
Description: Shell is depressed with a reflected lip. Shell with multiple narrow spiral bands above and below the periphery. Shell has a darker narrow band on periphery and another darker one above periphery (these may be ridged).
Whorls: 4
Animal:
Distribution: Found at RNP.
Observations: In dense humid forest of middle altitude to 1000 meters.
Etymology: “bicingulata” means two banded.

 
Fig 5-30a Helicophanta bicingulata


Fig 5-30b Helicophanta bicingulata shell

Helicophanta farafanga (Adams, 1875)

Size: Height 92 and width 70 mm.
Description: Shell is large bulimiform with several wide spiral bands.
Whorls: 4
Animal: Light colored with the mantle edge near the shell with black radial stripes.
Distribution: Southeastern Madagascar; found at RNP.
Observations: The shell has been called “A magnificent species” The shell is more attractive in the wet spring when the shell is more pearly than in the summer when it is dry.
Etymology: Named for the type locality at Farafanga River south of RNP on the coast.


Fig 5-31a Helicophanta farafanga


Fig 5-31b Helicophanta farafanga

Helicophanta gargantua (Emberton, 1999)

Size: Height 79.3 and width 90.9 mm.
Description: Shell is depressed with a slightly reflected thick lip. The unicolor shell has strong growth lines.
Whorls: 4.5
Animal:
Distribution: Near Andringitra Reserve. Not reported from RNP.
Observations:
Etymology: Named for Rabelais’ fictional giant, Gargantua, because of the very large shell size.


Fig 5-32a Helicophanta gigantua

Helicophanta ibaraoensis (Angas, 1879)

Size: Height 50 and width 77 mm.
Description: Shell is large depressed with a reflected lip and imperforate.
Whorls have many narrow spiral bands with five of the bands above the periphery darker.
Whorls: 4 ˝.
Animal: A uniform dark, almost black color.
Distribution: Found at RNP.
Observations: Mainly in humid evergreen forests from low to middle altitudes. The copulation of Helicophanta ibaraoensis is rarely seem. The observation of George Williams is presented in Question 137.



Fig 5-33a Helicophanta ibaroensis


Fig 5-33b Helicophanta ibaroensis shell

Helicophanta souverbiana var. audiberti (Mousson, 1882)

Size: Height 43 and width 77 mm.
Description: A large depressed shell with a reflected lip and rimate umbilicus.The whorls have a single wide spiral band on the periphery. The single dark band is often edged by white bands where the periostracum has peeled off.
Whorls: 4 very rapidly increasing in size.
Animal: Yellow-brown.
Distribution: Found at RNP.
Observations: The thick periostracum will dry and peel exposing a white band on either side of the peripheral band.
Etymology: Probably named for a person.


Fig 5-34a Helicophanta souverbiana audiberti


Fig 5-34b Helicophanta souverbiana audiberti

Helicophanta souverbiana var. souverbiana (Fischer, 1860)

Size: Height 45 and width 70 to 80 mm.
Description: Shell is depressed with a reflected lip and imperforate. The whorls have 4 or 5 wide spiral bands.
Whorls: 4.
Animal:
Distribution:
Observations: I did not see it in park.
Etymology: Named for S. M. Souverbie (1815-1891).


Fig 5-35a Helicophanta souverbiana souverbiana

Helicophanta souverbiana var. "2"

Size: Height 57 and width 78 mm.
Description: Shell depressed with reflected lip and perforate. Whorl has two wide spiral bands. The peripheral band is darker and wider than the one below the periphery.
Whorls:
Animal: Yellow-brown.
Distribution: Found at RNP.
Observations:
Etymology:


Fig 5-36a Helicophanta souverbiana "2" animal


Fig 5- 36b Helicophanta souverbiana "2" shell

The genus Leucotaenius was recently (1985) transferred from the family Achatinidae to the Acividae based on an anatomical study. There are seven species with only one found at Ranomafana. The name is from the Greek “leukos” which means white and “tainia” which means band.

Leucotaenius favannii (Lamarck, 1822)

Size: Height 60 and width 32.8 mm.
Description: Shell is bulimoid with a straight lip and perforate. Whorl has
spiral color bands.
Whorls: 7
Animal:
Distribution:
Observations: Mainly in the thick dry southern and tropophiles forests of the west or it especially likes to dig in sandy soil in the coastal dunes. It buries itself in the dirt and becomes active after a heavy rain.
Etymology: Named for M. Favanne, a French conchologist.


Fig 5-37a Leucotaenius favannii


Fig 5-37b Leucotaenius favannii

112-Family RHYTIDIDAE

This carnivorous family is found in New Zealand, Australia, the islands of the western Pacific, Indonesia, the Seychelles and South Africa. The shells are mainly yellow to dark honey to black with very little calcareous material, mainly conchin. The family is represented in Madagascar by one species.

"Rhytida" covani (Smith, 1879)

Size: Height 16 and width 36 mm.
Description: Shell is unicolor depressed with a straight lip, not wide umbilicate, and without color bands.
Whorls: 5 to 5˝.
Animal:
Distribution: In humid evergreen forests of middle altitude and the humid or sclerophylle forest of mountains to 2100 meters. Found at RNP.
Observations: This species has been tentatively placed in the genus Rhytida. It was included with the genus Ampelita but is different from that genus by its straight lip and narrow umbilicus.
Etymology: Probably named for a person.


Fig 5-38a "Rhytida" covani


Fig 5-38b "Rhytida" covani top view


Fig 5- 38c "Rhytida" covani bottom view

132-Family ARIOPHANTIDAE

This tropical family is widespread and has a medium to large shell which is usually narrowly umbilicate or perforate.

Kalidos with 71 species is endemic. It has a medium to large depressed to helicoid perforate shell with a straight lip. It also often has an angled periphery outline.

Kalidos balstoni (Angas, 1877)

Size: Height 14.5 and width 29 mm.
Description: Shell is depressed with a straight lip and perforate. Whorl has asingle or no spiral band.
Whorls: 6 with the last sharply keeled or round and with weak or no growth lines.
Animal:
Distribution:
Observations: In dense eastern humid forest from coastal top 2100 meters. Sclerophylle mountain forests and thick brush.Etymology: Prabably named for a person.


Fig 5-39a Kalidos balstoni with angular periphery


Fig 5-39b Kalidos balstoni with round periphery

Kalidos cleamesi (Smith, 1882)

Size: Height 17 and width 26 mm.
Description: Shell depressed with a straight lip. Whorl with a single spiral band.
Whorls: 6 with strong growth lines.
Animal:
Distribution:
Observations: In dense humid forests of low elevations.
Etymology: Probably named for a person.


Fig 5-40a Kalidos cleamesi


Fig 5-40b Kalidos cleamesi

Kalidos ekongensis (Angas, 1877)

Size: Height 12 and width 22 mm.
Description: Shell depressed with straight lip and imperforate. Body whorl has two spiral bands. The periphery outline is round and the shell is perforate.
Whorls: 6
Animal:
Distribution: East and northwest Madagascar.
Observations:
Etymology: Named for the type locality of Ekongo.


Fig 5-41a Kalidos ekongensis

Kalidos hova (Odhner, 1919)

Size: Height 15 and width 25 mm.
Description: Shell is depressed with a straight lip and perforate. Whorl has asingle spiral band and is perforate.
Whorls: 6
Animal:
Distribution:
Observations: In dry forest in gravel or lime soil.
Etymology:


Fig 5-42a Kalidos hova

The genus Macrochlamys has one medium size depressed species which is also present in the Comores

Macrochlamys stumpfii Boettger, 1889

Size: Height 7 and width 11.5 mm.
Description: Shell is depressed with a straight lip and perforate.
Whorls: 5
Animal: Dark foot.
Distribution: Widespread in dry forest on lime soil to the dense ombrophile forest of low to middle altitude. Found at RNP.
Observations:
Etymology: Probably named for a person.


Fig 5-43a Macrochlamys stumpfii


Fig 5-43b Macrochlamys stumpfii live


Fig 5- 43c Macrochlamys stumpfii shell

153-Family BRADYBAENIDAE

Bradybaenidae is a family with many species in southeast Asia and the Philippines. The only species in Madagascar is Bradybaena similaris which has been introduced throughout the tropics. It is referred to as a “tropical tramp”. It is frequently transported in the soil adhering to coffee plants.

Bradybaena similaris (Ferussac, 1821)

Size: Height 10 to 12 and width 14 to 18 mm.
Description: Shell is helicoid with a thickened lip and perforate. Whorl may or may not have a single spiral peripheral band.
Whorls: 5
Animal: Light brown body with a darker stripe from the base of each eye tentacle halfway to the shell edge.
Distribution: Widespread introduced species.
Observations: Very common near present or former human habitation.
Etymology: similar


Fig 5-44a Bradybaena similaris striped


Fig 5-44b Bradybaena similaris no stripe


Fig 5-44c Bradybaena similaris

SLUGS

The slugs are difficult for me to identify to species. They are keyed to family with a family description.

113-CHLAMYDEPHORIDAE

This family of carnivorous slugs live in South Africa but presently are not found in Madagascar.


Fig 5-45a Chlamydephoridae slug

134-UROCYCLIDAE

The urocyclid slugs have a hunch-backed appearance with a tail that is hook-shaped. The family is found in Eastern and Southern Africa. In Madagascar there are six species of the genus Urocyclus.


Fig 5-46a Urocyclidae slug

50-Family VERONICELLIDAE

This family of herbivorous slugs live in tropical and subtropical America, Asia, and Africa. There are 9 species of the genus Vagulina in Madagascar.


Fig 5-47a Veronicellidae slug