Ratnadvipia karui
Ratnadvipia karui is a species of air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Ariophantidae. It is endemic to island of Sri Lanka.
| Ratnadvipia karui | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Subclass: | Heterobranchia |
| Order: | Stylommatophora |
| Family: | Ariophantidae |
| Genus: | Ratnadvipia |
| Species: | R. karui |
| Binomial name | |
| Ratnadvipia karui Pfeiffer, 1854 | |
Etymology
The specific name karui was for the honor for G.P.B. Karunaratne (1931–1996), who was a renowned Sri Lankan naturalist.
Description
Shell is glossy and polished, partly membranaceous, and oval elongately. Mantle found as a broad band around shell and covers all or nearly all of the shell. Shell golden yellow to deep golden-brown in color. Juveniles highly variable in color ranges from dark steel grey, pale bluish or yellowish grey, or greyish white.[1]
Ecology
It can be found in dry zone and lower wet zonal forests and home gardens. When disturbed or touches, it produces a clear, brilliant orange-red mucous.
References
- "The Sri Lankan endemic semi-slug Ratnadvipia (Limacoidea: Ariophantidae) and a new species from southwestern Sri Lanka". Systematics and Biodiversity 4(1):99-126. Retrieved 2 November 2016.