Snails of Sri Lanka (List of Marine Snails of Sri Lanka / List of Non Marine Snails of Sri lanka)

Snails of Sri Lanka

Arthropoda is the largest phylum in animal kingdom. Among Arthropodes, class Insecta has the greatest species diversity due to their high adaptability to environmental conditions. The second largest phylum is phylum Mollusca. It consists of seven classes. Among them class Gastropoda is the most successful class. Snails belong to class Gastropoda. Morphologically snails are three types. They are
• Snails – with a shell
• Slugs – no shell
• Semi slugs – less developed shell like structure

Class Gastropoda can be divided into two subclasses. They are,
• Prosobranchia – gill breathing snails
• Pulmonata – lung breathing snails

Prosobranchia
They are the early members of class Gastropoda. Most of them live in marine environment. They have a well-developed shell. The shell is very useful for marine forms for protection from predation. Since marine environment is rich in calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) the main component in Prosobranch shell is CaCO₃ . Their protein content is low. So their shell is very hard. Prosobranchs have one pair of long tentacles. This is the main distinguishing feature between prosobranchs and pulmonates. Eyes are located on top of these tentacles. Most of them have an operculum to seal the aperture of their shell. But they have a small gap for air exchange. Spine patterns on this cover are used for species identification. They are dioecious animals (sexes are separate).

Pulmonata
All pulmonates are terrestrial. They have two pairs of tentacles. One pair is long and has eyes on top or at the base of them. The other pair is short and has chemoreceptors. Their shell is mainly composed of proteins and they lack CaCO₃. So their shells are very fragile. Most of them are hermaphrodites (both sexes seen in the same individual). About three quarters of Gastropod species belong to subclass Pulmonata. Slugs and semi slugs are also included in this subclass.

General points
• Snails have photo sensors in eyes and heat sensors on tentacles.
• Only Acavus genus lays eggs with shells. Other species lay eggs without shells.
• Acavus is a hermaphrodite genus but do not use their own sperms for fertilize their eggs. They exchange their sperms. This allows more genetic variation to occur than fertilizing their eggs from their own sperms. Sperms exits from the opening near the right tentacle.
• Differences of the reproductive system can be used for species identification.
• Terrestrial snails eat leaves, mosses, fungus rotting fruits etc.
• Marine and other aquatic snails eat planktons and sea plants such as sea grasses.
• Terrestrial snails can be seen mostly in rainy seasons. They are highly abundant in wet zone. They cannot be seen in hot day times because they can be subjected to desiccation. They also cannot bare high light intensities.
• There are about 75 000 of land snail species present in the world.
• Sri Lanka has 246 land snail species. Among them 218 species are endemic. The endemism percentage is about 80%.
• Five genuses are endemic to Sri Lanka. They are,
- Acavus – 3 species present. They are considered as living fossils because members from this genus were found in archaeological sites such as Pahiyangala which gives evidence their presence in pre historic times. Acavus is used as food and their juice is used for medical purposes. Acavus have attractive colours. It is a disadvantage for the survival of this species. Because people collect their shells as ornaments.
- Oligospira -3 species present. When food is scares they form a layer and hibernate.
- Rawana – 1 species present. It is Rawana politissima which was considered early as point endemic species. But it is found in many places in hill areas. They cannot be seen below 800m altitudes.
- Rathnadvipia – 2 species present. Both Rawana and Rathnadvipia contain semi slugs. Snails in this species have a shape like Sri Lanka.
• Two genuses are shared with Sri Lanka and Western Ghats. They are,
- Corilla genus – 5 species in the world. 4 species are endemic to Sri Lanka. One species is shared with Sri Lanka and India. This is an evidence to prove that Sri Lanka and India were connected together in the past.
- Eukaryta
• Acavus can be seen on a high position of a tree. They can be seen as groups with 5-10 individuals. Most other species lives on low heights of trees.
• Size, shape of the shell, body colour can be used for species identification. Colour of the shell is not a good distinguishing character because it can lead for misidentification.
Eg: Bedomia albizonata is an endemic species. Its shell is green colour due to a symbiotic relationship with algae. But when the snail dies the shell become white colour because of the breakdown of symbiotic relationship. Sometimes some shells become green colour due to deposition of mosses. So shell colour is not a valid distinguishing feature of snails. Lip of the shells is also a distinguishing feature. But it also varies sometimes. Lip is absent in juvenile forms. It is visible well only in the adult forms. Lip colour can be varied according to their diet, climate and environmental condition.
• Some snails are considered as invasive species because they are introduced to some environments by human activities. These invasive ones cause problems to native species. There are about 18 such snail species in Sri Lanka which are considered as pests. Many of them are slugs. They mainly live in hill country in agricultural areas.

List of marine snails of Sri Lanka

Marine Snails

Class: Gastropoda

Family: Amathinidae

·         Amathina tricarinata

Family: Psammobiidae

·         Asaphis deflorata

Family: Buccinidae

·         Pollia undosa

Family: Muricidae

·         Chicoreus brunneus

Family: Conidae

·         Conus figulinus

Family: Dentaliidae

Dentalium

Family: Ficidae

·         Ficus

Family: Ampullinidae

·         Globularia fluctuata

Family: Mesodesmatidae

·         Mesodesma glabratum

Family: Buccinidae

·         Phalium decussatum

Family: Tellinidae

·         Pharaonella

Family: Terebridae

·         Duplicaria raphanula

·         Terebra commaculata

·         Terebra

Family: Tonnidae

·         Tonna luteostoma

Family: Cardiidae

·         Vasticardium assimile

·         Vasticardium rubicundum

Family: Mytilidae

·         Perna virdis

Family: Chamidae

·         Chama brassica

Family: Pectinidae

·         Chlamys

Family: Cypraeidae

Cypraea

Family: Trochidae

·         Trochus radiatus

Family

·         Antigona lamellaris

Family: Muricidae

·         Thais rudolpi

Family: Nacellidae

·         Cellana radiata

Family: Mytilidae

·         Mytilus crassitestatus

Family: Veneridae

·         Dosinia

·         Pitar hebracea

·         Pitar sulfureum

·         Sunetta

Family[edit]

·         Afrocardium latum

Family: Mactridae

·         Mactra turgida

Family: Cardiidae

·         Cerastoderma glaucum

Family[edit]

·         Lactona incarnata

Class: Polyplacophora

·         Chiton

List of non-marine snails of Sri Lanka

Land Snails

Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
When considering mollusc diversity in Sri Lanka, snails are the major group that can be found within the island. About 246 land snails are known to occur in Sri Lanka, with 83% of endemism. This include 5 endemic and relict land snails. Majority of land snails are pulmonates.

Endemic species are highlighted with an asterix (*).

Subclass: Pulmonata

Family: Acavidae

·         Acavus haemastoma*

·         Acavus phoenix*

·         Acavus superbus*

·         Oligospira polei*

·         Oligospira skinneri*

·         Oligospira waltoni*

Family: Achatinidae - Giant land snails

·         Achatina fulica

Family: Ariophantidae

·         Cryptozona bistrialis

·         Cryptozona ceraria*

·         Cryptozona chenui*

·         Cryptozona Juliana*

·         Cryptozona novella*

·         Cryptozona semirugata

·         Euplecta acuducta

·         Euplecta albnonata

·         Euplecta binoyaensis*

·         Euplecta colletti*

·         Euplecta concavospira*

·         Euplectu emiliana*

·         Euplecta gardeneri*

·         Euplecta hyphasma*

·         Euplecta indica

·         Euplecta isabellina*

·         Euplecta laevis*

·         Euplecta lankaensis*

·         Euplecta layardi*

·         Euplecta neglecta*

·         Euplecta partita*

·         Euplecta phidias*

·         Euplecta prestoni*

·         Euplecta rosamonda*

·         Euplecta scobinoides*

·         Euplecta semidecussata

·         Euplecta subopaca*

·         Euplecta trimeni*

·         Euplecta turritella

·         Euplecta travancoricii =Euplecta praeeminens

·         Euplecta verrucula*

·         Macrochlamys mdica

·         Macrochlamys kandiensis*

·         Macrochlamys neaps*

·         Macrochlamys perfucata*

·         Macrochlamys tratanensis*

·         Macrachlmys umbrina*

·         Macrachlmy vilipensa

·         Macrochlamys woodiana

·         Microcystina bintennensis*

·         Microcystina lita*

·         Mariaella dussumieri

·         Ratnadvipia irradians*

·         Ratnadvipia karui*

·         Ravana politissima*

·         Sitala operiens*

·         Sitala phyll.ophila*

·         Sitala pyramidalis*

·         Satiella membranacea*

Family: Bradybaenidae

·         Bradybaena similaris

Succineidae

·         Succinea ceylanica

Family: Buliminidae

·         Mirus panos*

·         Mirus proletaria*

·         Mirus stalix*

Family: Camaenidae

·         Beddomea albizonatus*

·         Beddomea ceylanicus*

·         Beddomea intermedius*

·         Beddomea frifasciatus*

·         Trachia fallaciosa

·         Trachia vittata

·         Landouria radleyi*

Family: Cerastidae

·         Rachis punctatus

·         Rhachistia adumhratus*

·         Rhachistia pulcher

Family: Charopidae

·         Ruthvenia biciliata*

·         Ruthvenia caliginosa*

·         Ruthvenia clathratula*

·         Thysanota elegans*

·         Thysanota eumita*

·         Thysanota hispida*

Family: Clausiliidae - Door snails

·         Phaedusa ceylanica*

Family: ]

·         Corilla adamsi*Corillidae

·         Corilla beddomeae *

·         Corilla carabmata*

·         Corilla colletti*

·         Corilla erronea*

·         Corilla fryae*

·         Corilla giidei*

·         Corilla humberti*

·         Corilla lesleyae*

·         Corilla odontophora*

Family: Diplomatinidae

·         Nicida catathymia*

·         Nicida ceylamca*

·         Nicida delectabilis*

·         Nicida lankaensis*

·         Nicida pedronis*

·         Nicida prestomi*

Family: Endodontidae

·         Philalanka circumsculpta*

·         Philalanka depressa*

·         Philalanka edithae*

·         Philalanka lamcabensis*

·         Philalanka liratula*

·         Philalanka mononema*

·         Philalanka secessa*

·         Philalanka sinhila*

·         Philalanka thwaitesi*

·         Philalanka trifilosa*

Family: Euconulidae - Hive snails

·         Eurychlamys layardi*

·         Eurychlamys regulala*

·         Eurychltiniys winifredae*

Family: Ferussaciidae

·         Digoniaxis cingalensis*

Family: Gastrodontidae

·         Zonitoides arboreus

Family: Glessulidae

·         Glessula capillacea

·         Glessula ceylanica*

·         Glessula collettae*

·         Glessula deshayesi

·         Glessula fulgens*

·         Glessula inornata*

·         Glessula lankana*

·         Glessula layardi*

·         Glessula nitens*

·         Glessula pachycheila*

·         Glessula pullens*

·         Glessula panaethu*

·         Glessula pwahilis*

·         Glessula prestoni*

·         Glessula punctogallana*

·         Glessula pusilla

·         Glessula reynelli*

·         Glessula sattaraensis

·         Glessula serena*

·         Glessula simony*

·         Glessula sinhila*

·         Glessula veruina*

Family: Helicarionidae

·         Kaliella barrakporensis

·         Kaliella colletti*

·         Kaliella delectabilis*

·         Kaliella leithiana*

·         Kaliella salicensis*

·         Sivella galerus*

·         Sivella hyptiucyclos*

Family: Lirnacidae - Keelback slugs

·         Deroceras reticulatum

Family: Pupillinae

·         Microstele muscerda

·         Pupoides coenopictus

Family: Pupinidae

·         Tortulosa aurea*

·         Tortulosa austeniana*

·         Tortulosa barnaclei*

·         Tortulosa blanfordi*

·         Tortulosa colletti*

·         Tortulosa congener*

·         Tortulosa connectens*

·         Tortulosa cumingi*

·         Tortulosa decora*

·         Tortulosa duplicate*

·         Tortulosa eurytrema*

·         Tortulosa greeni*

·         Tortulosa haemastoma*

·         Tortulosa hartleyi*

·         Tortulosa layardi*

·         Tortulosa leucocheilus*

·         Tortulosa marginata*

·         Tortulosa nevilli*

·         Tortulosa metneri*

·         Tortulosa prestoni*

·         Tortulosa pyramidata*

·         Tortulosa rugosa*

·         Tortulosa smithi*

·         Tortulosa sykesi*

·         Tortulosa templemani*

·         Tortulosa thwaitesi*

Family: Pyramidulidae

·         Pyramidula halyi*

Family: Streptaxidae

·         Indoartemon cingalensis*

·         Indoartemon gracilis*

·         Indoartemon layardianus*

·         Perrottetia peroteti

·         Perrottetia ravanae*

·         Gulella bicolor

·         Sinoennea planguncula

Family: Subulinidae

·         Subulina octona

·         Allopeas gracile

·         Allopeas layardi*

·         Allopeas marine*

·         Allopeas prestoni*

·         Allopeas pussilus

·         Allopeas sykesi

·         Paropeas achatinaceum

·         Zootecus insularis

Family: Veronicellidae - Leatherleaf slugs

·         Cyclophorus alabastrimis*

·         Cyclophorus ceylanicus**

·         Cyclophorus involvulus

·         Cyclophorus menkeanus

·         Aulopoma grande**

·         Aulopoma helicinum**

·         Aulopoma itieri**

·         Aulopoma sphaeroideum**

·         Cyathopoma album

·         Cyathopoma artatum**

·         Cyathopoma ceylanicum**

·         Cyathopoma colletti**

·         Cyathopoma conoideum**

·         Cyathopoma innocens**

·         Cyathopoma leptomita*

·         Cyathopoma mariae*

·         Cyathopoma ogdenianum*

·         Cyathopoma perconoideum*

·         Cyathopoma prestoni*

·         Cyathopoma serendibense*

·         Cyathopoma turbinatum*

·         Cyathopoma uvaense*

·         Japonia binoyae*

·         Japonia occulta*

·         Japonia vesca*

·         Leptopoma apicatum*

·         Leptopoma elatum*

·         Leptopoma semiclausum*

·         Leptopomoides conulus*

·         Leptopomoides flammeus*

·         Leptopomoides halophilus*

·         Leptopomoides orophilus*

·         Leptopomoides poecilus*

·         Leptopomoides taprobanensis*

·         Micraulax coeloconus

·         Scabrina brounae*

·         Scabrina liratula*

·         Theobaldius annulatus*

·         Theobaldius bairdi*

·         Theobaldius cadiscus*

·         Theobaldius cratera*

·         Theobaldius cytopoma*

·         Theobaldius layardi*

·         Theobaldius liliputianus*

·         Theobaldius loxostoma*

·         Theobaldius parapsis*

·         Theobaldius parma*

·         Theobaldius subplicatulus*

·         Theobaldius thwaitesi*

·         Pterocyclus bifrons*

·         Pterocyclus bilabialus

·         Pterocyclus cingalensis*

·         Pterocyclus cumingi

·         Pterocyclus troscheli*

Family: Vertiginidae - Whorl snails

·         Gastrocopta mimula*

·         Nesopupa cinghalensis*

·         Pupisoma longstaffae*

·         Pupisoma miccyla*

Family: Truncatellidae - Looping snails

·         Truncatella ceylanica