Key to Australian Freshwater and Terrestrial Invertebrates
Phylum Mollusca
Class Gastropoda
Informal group Pulmonata
Order Eupulmonata
Family Ellobiidae
Common names: terrestrial snails, toothed air-breathers
Overview
The Ellobiidae are a large family of primitive snails. They are characterised by the lack of operculum and the presence of �teeth� on the aperture of the shell.
Distribution and diversity
The distribution of the family is worldwide. In Australia there are 37 described species in 11 genera. There are two other families in the order Eupulmonata with Australian representatives (the Smeagolidae and Trimusculidae), but they only occur in marine environments.
Life cycle
Ellobiidae are either protandric or simultaneous hermaphrodites. Some species deposit eggs singularly, with a tough, leathery egg capsule surrounding the embryo, but there are also some species which lay egg masses containing hundreds of embryos.
Feeding
Ellobiids are thought to feed on plant matter, algae and debris.
Ecology
Most species of Ellobiidae are terrestrial or marginally marine, inhabiting the littoral zones associated with estuaries, mangroves and salt marshes.
