Otala is a genus of land snails in the subfamily Helicinae of the family Helicidae.[1][2]

Archaeological evidence in Morocco indicates the exploitation of O. lactea by ancient Romans as a food source.[3]

Distribution

This genus of snail is native to northwestern Africa and southwestern Europe.

Anatomy

These snails create and shoot love darts as part of their courtship and mating behavior.

Species

Species within the genus Otala include:[4]

Species brought into synonymy
  • Otala (Otala) alicantensis Truc, 1971 †: synonym of Schlickumia alicantensis (Truc, 1971) †
  • Otala (Otala) bottini (Sacco, 1884) †: synonym of Schlickumia bottinii (Sacco, 1884) † (incorrect subsequent spelling; new combination)
  • Otala canariensis Mousson, 1872: synonym of Otala lactea (Müller, 1774)
  • Otala jacquemetana Mabille, 1883: synonym of Otala lactea (Müller, 1774)
  • Otala vermiculata (O. F. Müller, 1774): synonym of Eobania vermiculata (O. F. Müller, 1774)

References

  1. ^ Taxonomy of the Genus Otala (2008). Uniprot.
  2. ^ MolluscaBase eds. (2021). MolluscaBase. Otala Schumacher, 1817. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=818443 on 2021-02-14
  3. ^ Hogan, C. M. Volubilis. In: Burnham, A. (ed.) The Megalithic Portal. 2007.
  4. ^ Genus summary for Otala. AnimalBase, accessed 7 August 2009.
  • Pfeffer, G. (1930). Zur Kenntnis tertiärer Landschnecken. Geologisch-Paläontologische Abhandlungen, neue Folge. 17(3): 153–380.
  • Pallary, P. (1918). Diagnoses d'une cinquantaine de mollusques terrestres nouveaux du Nord de l'Afrique. Bulletin de la Société d'Histoire Naturelle d'Afrique du Nord, 9 (7): 137–152. Alger
  • Holyoak, D.T. & Holyoak, G.A. (2017). A revision of the land-snail genera Otala and Eobania (Gastropoda, helicidae) in Morocco and Algeria. Journal of Conchology, 40 (6): 419–490. London

External links