Classification

Domain: Eukaryota- All members of this domain have eukaryotic cells which contain a nucleus with genetic material.

Kingdom: Animalia- Members of Animalia are multicellular, heterotrophic and lack a cell wall.

Phylum: Mollusca- This phylum is made up of soft-bodied coelomates. Their bodies are divided into three main zones, which are the head, visceral mass and muscular foot. Members of this phylum also possess a radula used for feeding.

Class: Gastropoda- Known as the "belly foots" this class includes animals like snails and slugs. Most animals in this class possess a single, coiled shell. Another trait of the Gastropods is the twisting of the visceral foot called torsion.

Order: Basommatophora-In the order Basommatophora, the members have a single pair of tentacles with eyes at the base.

Family: Planorbidae- This family is the largest of aquatic pulmonate gastropods and their members have a sinistral orientation. Many of these species can be hosts to the larvae of parasitic worms. This family includes species such as the Ramshorn snail.

Genus: Planorbella- Planorbella (Helisoma) is comprised of many types of Ramshorn snails, including the File Ramshorn snail. They are classified under this genus because of their left-coiling (sinistral) shells.

Species: Planorbella pilsbryi- File Ramshorn snail is distinguished from the other members of the Planorbella species by its shell being have a diameter that is greater than 8mm.

(Hickman 2009)

 **Planorbella pilsbryi gets its common name, rams-horn snail, because its shell is in the coiling shape of a ram's horn.

Go back to the home page, or learn about the habitat of Planorbella pilsbryi.