Cytora pallida facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cytora pallida |
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| Preserved Cytora pallida shells from 1904 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
| Class: | |
| (unranked): |
clade Caenogastropoda
Informal group Architaenioglossa |
| Superfamily: |
Cyclophoroidea
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| Family: |
Pupinidae
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| Subfamily: |
Liareinae
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| Genus: |
Cytora
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| Species: |
C. pallida
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| Binomial name | |
| Cytora pallida (Hutton, 1883)
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| Synonyms | |
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Leptopoma pallida Hutton, 1883 |
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Cytora pallida is a very tiny land snail. It belongs to a group of animals called molluscs. These snails have a special "door" called an operculum that can close their shell opening. Cytora pallida is part of the Pupinidae family, which includes many interesting snails.
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What is Cytora pallida?
Cytora pallida is a specific type of land snail. It's known for being quite small. Like all snails, it's a gastropod, which means "stomach foot." This name comes from how their body and foot seem to be connected.
Snails and their shells
Snails are famous for carrying their homes on their backs. This shell protects them from danger and from drying out. The shell of Cytora pallida is usually a pale color, which is where its name "pallida" comes from. "Pallida" means "pale" in Latin.
The Operculum: A snail's secret door
One cool feature of Cytora pallida is its operculum. This is a hard, plate-like structure attached to the snail's foot. When the snail pulls its body into its shell, the operculum acts like a trapdoor. It seals the opening of the shell. This helps the snail stay safe from predators and keeps it from losing too much moisture.
Where does Cytora pallida live?
This small snail species is found only in New Zealand. New Zealand is an island country known for its unique wildlife. Many species, like Cytora pallida, are found nowhere else in the world. This makes them very special and important to protect.
New Zealand's unique environment
New Zealand has diverse environments, from forests to mountains. These different habitats support a wide variety of plants and animals. Land snails like Cytora pallida often live in damp, leafy areas. They might be found under logs or in leaf litter on the forest floor. This environment provides them with food and moisture.
How are snails classified?
Scientists group living things into categories. This helps us understand how different species are related. Cytora pallida is classified as follows:
- Kingdom: Animalia (all animals)
- Phylum: Mollusca (molluscs, like snails, slugs, clams, and octopuses)
- Class: Gastropoda (snails and slugs)
- Family: Pupinidae (a family of land snails)
- Genus: Cytora (a group of similar snails)
- Species: C. pallida (this specific snail)
This system helps scientists study and protect different species around the world.
See also
- Cytora pallida para niños (in Spanish)
