Classification

P. columella is occasionally referred to by its former species name Lymnaea columella (Galton, 2011).

The taxonomy of P. columella is as follows:


Domain: Eukarya

This domain consists of all organisms that are considered to be Eukaryotes. This means that these organisms have cells with membrane bound organelles (Hickman et al. 2009).

 

Kingdom: Animalia

The Kingdom Animalia consists of heterotrophic organisms that are multicellular and rely on ingestion to acquire their food (Hickman et al. 2009).

 

Phylum: Mollusca

Molluscs are a group of animals that have a mantle, shell and/or modified lung, a muscular foot and a specialized organ called a radula. These organisms live in marine, terrestrial or freshwater habitats. They are also bilaterally symmetrical, without segments, are triploblastic or have three body layers, and have a defined head. Molluscs also have a slightly developed nervous system and an excretory system consisting of nephridia (Hickman et al. 2009).

 

Class: Gastropoda

The phylum Gastropoda contains mostly snails that have a single coiled shell. Most Gastropods have gone through a process called torsion which has made the location of their anus directly above their head. This characteristic of torsion is what distinguishes Gastropods from all other classes in the phylum Mollusca (Hickman et al. 2009).

 

Subclass: Pulmonata

This subclass contains mostly freshwater and land snails. The mantle of these snails has been modified into a lung, meaning that Pulmonates are without any gills. Pulmonates also have two pairs of tentacles with the posterior pair bearing eyes and are without an operculum covering the opening of their shell (Hickman et al. 2009).


Order: Basommatophora

This order is characterized by having sessile tentacles that are flattened and triangular with eyes at their base. Snails of the order Basommatophora also have an oblong shell covered in a corneous epidermis (Tyron, 1888).

 

Family: Lymnaeidae

Lymnaeidae snails usually have medium to large sized shells that are horny and thin with a pointed spire (Conchological society).

 

Genus: Lymnaea

This genus is characterized for three distinct differences from other genera. These differences are found in the shell, genitalia (more specifically the size of the prostate and penis/penis sac), and the radula (scraping and grasping structure). The name Pseudosuccinea is actually classified as a subgenus (Colton, 1914).


Subgenus: Pseudosuccinea

The subgenus Pseudosuccina is identified by their thin and fragile shell, their epiphallus, and their radula. The epiphallus is an enlargement of the vas deferens so they are not able to enter the penis correctly. The radula of this subgenus has lateral teeth with three cusps or rounded projections on their chewing surface (Colton, 1914).

The American Ribbed Fluke Snail is able to adapt to a wide variety of habitats! Continue on the the habitat page to learn more!