Lambda Snaggletooth (Sterki)
Welcome to the one-and-only
website devoted to the most interesting snail in all of the
land! Gastrocopta holzingeri, also known as either the
Lambda Snaggletooth or Sterki. How did this snail get these
fascinating nick-names? If you observe the parietal lamella of
the snail you will see that it is forked in front. This
resembles the Greek letter "λ".
When the snail is found in the wild, it is this pattern in the
lamella which identifies the organism (Baker, 1939).
Sterki is a familiar name associated with this species
because it was discovered by a physician named Victor Sterki.
Unlike most conchologists, Victor was drawn to the smaller
species of snails, rather than the large ones. By focusing on
the minute snails, Sterki discovered several American species
which other conchologists had overlooked. (Baker, 1939).
This site contains many interesting facts on the Lambda
Snaggletooth snail, including its taxonomic classification,
where it likes to live, how it has adapted to it's surroundings,
what it eats, and how it reproduces. Click any of the links on
the top to get started, have fun!
I have included some links to
other interesting sites dealing with this field of
study.
MultipleOrganisms.net
Wisconsin land snails page
My most useful source
Another useful snail website