Classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Scientific Name: Neohelix major
Kingdom: Animalia Common Name: Southeastern Whitelip
Phylum: Mollusca
Class:
Gastropoda
Order: Pulmonata
Family: Polygyridae
Genus: Neohelix
Species: Neohelix major
Domain Eukaryota - Includes all organisms
that have both a nucleus and membrane bound organelles in its
cells (Hickman et al., 2012).
Kingdom Animalia - Includes all organisms whose
cells do not have cell walls (Hickman
et al., 2012). These organisms are all multicellular
(Hickman et al., 2012).
Phylum Mollusca -One of the largest phyla in
the animal kingdom (Hickman et
al., 2012). Most notably defined as being soft bodied
coelomates with a radula, mantle, and a muscular foot
(Hickman et al., 2012). They
exist in freshwater, marine, and terrestrial habitats (Hickman et
al., 2012).
Gastropoda - A group of mollusks that are
defined as having a 180 degree twisting of their visceral mass,
called torsion (Hickman et
al., 2012).
Order Pulmonata - Indicates a group of snails
whose mantle cavity has been modified into air breathing lungs
(Burch and Myers, 2001).
Family Polygyridae - Strictly containing air
breathing land snails (Zip Code Zoo,
2012). Snails of this family are distinguished mostly by
internal features such as having a ribbed jaw and a single band
of muscle used to retract the eyes and pharynx
(Zip Code Zoo, 2012).
Genus Neohelix - A
subgenus under Triodopsis of which it
used to be referred (Encylopedia of
Life, 2012).
The species name Neohelix major
uses a combination of Latin and Greek words with neo
meaning new, helix meaning spiral or curve and major meaning big
or great (Wikipedia, 2012). This
describes the appearance of a snail from the Neohelix major
species. They have a large,
smooth, spiral shell.
The common name most used to refer to these
snails is Southeastern Whitelip
(Encylopedia of Life, 2012). This
name is used because it is found in the southeastern areas of
the United states (Perez et al., 2008).
The second part of that name, Whitelip, comes from the white lip
appearance on the edge of its shell as seen below.
