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
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Mollusca
Class:
Gastropoda
(unranked):
clade Heterobranchia clade Euthyneura
clade Panpulmonata
clade Eupulmonata
clade Stylommatophora
clade Sigmurethra
clade limacoid clade
Superfamily:
Helicarionoidea
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
  1. "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.
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