Marinula filholi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Marinula filholi |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
| Class: | |
| (unranked): | |
| Superfamily: |
Ellobioidea
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| Family: |
Ellobiidae
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| Subfamily: |
Carychiinae
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| Genus: | |
| Species: |
M. filholi
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| Binomial name | |
| Marinula filholi (H. Adams and A. Adams, 1854)
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| Synonyms | |
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Marinula chathamensis Finlay, 1928 |
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Marinula filholi is a tiny, air-breathing land snail found in New Zealand. It's a type of mollusc that belongs to a group called gastropods. This small creature is part of the Ellobiidae family.
Contents
About Marinula filholi
Marinula filholi is a fascinating example of the many small animals that live on land. Unlike some snails that live in water, this species breathes air, just like us! It's a very small snail, often hard to spot in its natural home.
What is a Snail?
A snail is a type of mollusc, which is a group of soft-bodied animals. Most snails have a hard, spiral shell on their back that they can pull into for protection. Snails move by gliding on a muscular "foot" and leave a trail of slime behind them. This slime helps them move smoothly and protects them from sharp surfaces.
Where Does It Live?
This particular snail, Marinula filholi, makes its home in New Zealand. New Zealand is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, known for its unique wildlife. Snails like Marinula filholi often live in damp, sheltered places, such as under rocks, logs, or in leaf litter, where they can stay moist and find food.
Snail Classification
Scientists group living things into categories to understand how they are related. This is called biological classification. Marinula filholi has a specific place in this system.
Molluscs and Gastropods
Marinula filholi is first classified as a mollusc. This large group includes animals like clams, oysters, and squid. Within molluscs, it's a gastropod. Gastropods are the largest class of molluscs, and they include all snails and slugs. The word "gastropod" means "stomach-foot," which describes how their body is arranged.
The Ellobiidae Family
Our snail belongs to the family Ellobiidae. This family includes a variety of air-breathing snails that often live in coastal areas, like salt marshes or near the sea, though some, like Marinula filholi, live further inland. These snails are special because they have adapted to breathe air, even though many of their relatives live in water.
Life Cycle and Reproduction
Like most snails, Marinula filholi reproduces by laying eggs. Snails are often hermaphrodites, meaning they have both male and female reproductive organs. This allows them to mate with any other snail of their species. After mating, both snails can lay eggs, which are usually laid in moist, protected places. The eggs hatch into tiny snails that look like miniature versions of the adults. They grow by eating and shedding their shells or adding to them as they get bigger.
Images for kids
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A close-up view of Marinula filholi.
