''Otoconcha dimidiata'' is a species of small air-breathing
semi-slug, a
terrestrial pulmonate
Pulmonata or pulmonates, is an informal group (previously an order, and before that a subclass) of snails and slugs characterized by the ability to breathe air, by virtue of having a pallial lung instead of a gill, or gills. The group includ ...
gastropod
The gastropods (), commonly known as snails and slugs, belong to a large taxonomic class of invertebrates within the phylum Mollusca called Gastropoda ().
This class comprises snails and slugs from saltwater, from freshwater, and from land. T ...
mollusc
Mollusca is the second-largest phylum of invertebrate animals after the Arthropoda, the members of which are known as molluscs or mollusks (). Around 85,000 extant species of molluscs are recognized. The number of fossil species is esti ...
in the family
Charopidae. It has a very thin and cap like shell hidden under its skin in the rounded swelling behind the head.
''Otoconcha dimidiata'' is the type species of the genus ''Otoconcha''.
Distribution
This species occurs in both North and South islands of
New Zealand.
Habitat
This semi slug lives in rotting logs where it is rarely seen because of its secretive habits, but it is not rare. It can be found by careful searching by torch light in damp areas of native forest.
Ecology
''Otoconcha dimidiata'' is the preferred prey of the carnivorous land gastropod ''
Schizoglossa novoseelandica
''Schizoglossa novoseelandica'' is a predatory species of air-breathing land slug or semi-slug, a Terrestrial animal, terrestrial gastropod mollusc in the family (biology), family Rhytididae. It is the type species of the genus ''Schizoglossa'' a ...
''.
[ Murdoch R. C. (1894) "Notes on the variation and habits of ''Schizoglossa novoseelandica''". ''']
1
3)
138
References
External links
*
Baker H. B. (1938) "The Endodont genus ''Otochoncha''". 23
page 8991.
* Suter H. (1913). ''Manual of the New Zealand Mollusca''. Wellington, 1120 pp
page 620
* Suter H. (1915). ''Manual of the New Zealand Mollusca. Atlas of plates''. John Mackay, Government printer, Wellington
plate 25 figure 2, 2a.
Charopidae
Gastropods described in 1853
{{Charopidae-stub