Papilloderma facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Papilloderma |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
| Class: | |
| (unranked): |
clade Heterobranchia informal group Pulmonata
clade Eupulmonata clade Stylommatophora informal group Sigmurethra |
| Superfamily: |
Papillodermatoidea
Wikton, Martin & Castillejo, 1990
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| Family: |
Papillodermatidae
Wikton, Martin & Castillejo, 1990
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| Genus: |
Papilloderma
Wikton, Martin & Castillejo, 1990
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| Species: |
P. altonagai
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| Binomial name | |
| Papilloderma altonagai Wikton, Martin & Castillejo, 1990
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| Synonyms | |
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Papillodermidae |
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Papilloderma altonagai is a special kind of air-breathing land slug. It is a land mollusk that belongs to a group called gastropods. This slug is unique because it is the only species in its genus called Papilloderma.
Even more, Papilloderma is the only genus in the family Papillodermatidae. And this family is the only one in the superfamily Papillodermatoidea. This means Papilloderma altonagai is very special and has no close relatives that we know of!
What's in a Name?
The name Papilloderma tells us something about this slug's body. The first part, Papillo-, means "papilla". Papillae are small, cone-shaped bumps. The second part, -derma, comes from Greek and means "skin". So, Papilloderma means "skin with papillae". This name was chosen because the slug's body is covered in rows of these small, cone-shaped bumps.
The second part of its name, altonagai, honors a scientist named Dr. Kepa Altonaga. He is a malacologist, which is a scientist who studies mollusks. Dr. Altonaga found the very first slug of this species. He works at the University of the Basque Country.
Where Does This Slug Live?
Papilloderma altonagai is an endemic species. This means it can only be found in one specific place in the world. For this slug, that place is northern Spain. It lives nowhere else!
