Polymita picta
| Polymita picta | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Five views of a shell of Polymita picta, typical colour | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| (unranked): | clade Heterobranchia clade Euthyneura clade Panpulmonata clade Eupulmonata clade Stylommatophora informal group Sigmurethra |
| Superfamily: | Helicoidea |
| Family: | Helminthoglyptidae |
| Genus: | Polymita |
| Species: | P. picta |
| Binomial name | |
| Polymita picta (Born, 1778) | |
Polymita picta, common name the Cuban land snail or the Painted snail, is a species of large, air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Helminthoglyptidae.[1]
This species is the type species of the genus Polymita.
Subspecies and varietas
Subspecies and varietas within this species include:[2]
- Polymita picta picta
- Polymita picta picta var. muscata Torre 1950
- Polymita picta picta var. multifasciata Torre 1950
- Polymita picta picta var. dimidiata Torre 1950
- Polymita picta picta var. obscurata Torre 1950
- Polymita picta iolimbata Torre 1950
- Polymita picta iolimbata var. iofasciata Torre 1950
- Polymita picta iolimbata var. iosaturata Torre 1950
- Polymita picta iolimbata var. iodimidiata Torre 1950
- Polymita picta fuscolimbata Torre 1950
- Polymita picta fuscolimbata Torre 1950
- Polymita picta fuscolimbata var. elevata Torre 1950
- Polymita picta nigrolimbata Torre 1950
- Polymita picta nigrolimbata var. fulminata Torre 1950
- Polymita picta nigrolimbata var. nigrofasciata Torre 1950
- Polymita picta roseolimbata Torre 1950
- Polymita picta roseolimbata forma minor Torre 1950
- Polymita picta roseolimbata var. virgata Torre 1950
- Polymita picta roseolimbata var. albolimbata Torre 1950
Distribution and habitat
This snail is endemic to Cuba.[3] These arboreal molluscs live mainly in coastal habitats in the subtropical forest, with a preference for certain tree species including Chrysobalanus icaco, Metopium toxifera, Metopium brownei, Bursera simarouba and Coccoloba retusa.[4]
Description
Shells of Polymita picta can reach a length of about 20 millimetres (0.79 in). These large shells are shiny and very brightly colored. Nornally they show a bright yellow color with a white stripe, but the species is well known for its colourful shell polymorphism, with numerous color varieties.[5]
These shells are sought after by poachers and used to make jewelry and trinkets. As a result, the species has become endangered. It is a protected species since 1943 by the Cuban legislation which prohibits the export except for scientific reasons.[6]
Biology
Polymita picta mainly feeds on lichen, moss and on fungal biofilms present on bark and leaves. The life cycle lasts about 15 months, with breeding time during the wet season (September- October). The snails become dormant in the dry season (December- beginning of May).[7]
Like most air-breathing land snails, Polymita picta has female and male reproductive organs (hermaphroditic), ie it is unable to self-fertilization. Moreover similarly to other gastropods in the superfamily Helicoidea, this species uses love darts as part of its mating behavior. During the courtship these snails spear the partner with a calcareous dart.[7][8]
References
- ↑ Biolib
- ↑ Subspecies and varietas of P. picta - Polymita Taxonomy
- ↑ Claudio Galli WMSDB - Wolrdwide Mollusc Species Data Base
- ↑ Genus Polymita
- ↑ Prohibición de Exportar Polymitas, a no ser mediante justificación para actividades o fines cíentificos. Decreto Ley no. 932, Gaceta Oficial Republica de Cuba, March 27, 1943, p. 5095.
- 1 2 Bernardo Reyes-Tur1, John A. Allen, Nilia Cuellar-Araujo, Norvis Hernández, Monica Lodi, Abelardo A. Méndez-Hernández and Joris M. Koene Mating behaviour, dart shape and spermatophore morphology of the Cuban tree snail Polymita picta (Born, 1780)
- ↑ Joris M. Koene and Hinrich Schulenburg Shooting darts: co-evolution and counter-adaptation in hermaphroditic snails in BMC Evolutionary Biology, 2005, 5:25, DOI:10.1186/1471-2148-5-25.
Bibliography
- Fernandez, J.M., J.R. Martinez,1987. Polymita. Ministerio de Cultura, Editorial Cientifico-Tecnica, Habana, Cuba
- Parkinson, B., J. Hemmen and K. Groh, 1987. Tropical Landshells of the World. Weisbaden.
- Emilio Jorge Power. «Polymita picta». The Polymita Home Page.
- González Guillén A. (2014). "Polymita, the most beautiful land snail of the world". Carlos M. Estevez & Associates, Miami, 359 pp., ISBN 978-1-63068-516-4.
- Torre1950, "El Genero Polymita", Memorias de la Sociedad Cubana de Historia Natural "Felipe Poey", 20(1): 1-20, 11 color plates.
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