Classification
Common Name: Gulf Hammock Liptooth
Domain: Eukarya
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class:
Gastropoda
Order: Stylommatophora
Family: Polygyridae
Genus: Daedalochila
Species: Daedalochila delecta
Domain: Starting off Daedalochila delecta’s
classification is its Eukarya domain. This domain includes all
living organisms that have eukaryotic cells (cells that have
membrane bound organelles). Eukarya account for the vast majority of
living organisms that are seen each day, and have the following
characteristics that differ from the Bacteria and Archea domains by
the following: Eukaryotic cells, are either unicellular (yeasts) or
multicellular (Animalia, Fungi, and Plantae kingdoms), and carry out
cellular division by mitosis and reproduce in cycles (Madigan,
et al. 2012). Eukarya is derived from the latin word Eukaryota and
which means “those having a true nucleus”.
Kingdom: Daedalochila delecta is in the
kingdom Animalia (meaning “Animals” in Latin). The common
characteristics of things in the animal kingdom are: being
multicellular, and have eukaryotic cells, they lack a cell wall, and
they digest their food internally (Buffalo
Biology 2003).
Phylum: Daedalochila delecta belongs to
the phylum Mollusca. Mollusca comprises a large phylum of
invertebrates, and also accounts for the largest marine phylum (Bunjie,
2003).
While this group has a vast variety of characteristics, the main
universal features are that the organisms have a true body coelom,
meaning that they contain a fluid-filled body cavity that separates
the muscles of an organism from the gut. Mollusks also have a
mantle, which secretes the shell of the organism. Daedalochila
delecta and the rest of the Mollusks have a calcium carbonate
shell that is used for protection. Most, but not all, of the members
also have a radula which is a rasping organ used for scraping,
tearing, or drilling into prey (Bunjie,
2003). Mollusca is the neuter plural of
Latin mollis, meaning “soft”.
Class: Daedalochila delecta is in the
class Gastropoda. In Latin Gaster means stomach, and pous means
foot, so Gastropoda means Stomach foot. Most Gastropods have a shell
(usually spiral), that they can withdraw into. Also they all go
through torsion. Torsion takes place during the veliger stage, and
is basically a twist (180 degrees) of the visceral mass. Gastropods
also have a muscular foot which is used for locomotion (Encyclopedia
of Life).
Order: Daedalochila delecta
belong to the order Stylommatophora. Members of this order are
terrestrial air-breathing snails and slugs, and includes the
majority of all land snails and slugs on earth. There are two
defining synapomorphies of this order: a long pedal gland beneath a
membrane, and two pairs of retractile tentacles (Encyclopedia
of Life). Sty-lom-ma-toph-o-ra
broken down in Latin means column+ eye+ to bear.
Family: Daedalochila delecta is in the
family Polygyridae. Polygyridae have the common attributes of air
breathing snails, and are terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks.
They are different than other Gastropods because they have no dart
apparatus, the muscles that allow the eyes and pharynx to be
retracted are together on a single band, and the jaws are ribbed.
Polygyridae snails are abundant in Eastern United States, but are
also found in Western United States, Central America, and some
Carribean Islands (Encyclopedia
of Life).
Genus: Literally meaning “the intricate lip” in Latin, the genus
Daedalochila
comprise only land snails. They are very small in size; averaging to
only 10 mm to 15 mm in diameter (Baker,
1939). This genus is famous for their
elaborately complex apertures, which have very narrow openings.
Daedalochila are limited to the southern United States and northern
Mexico (Baker, 1939).
Species: Daedalochila delecta, commonly known
as the Gulf Hammock Liptooth, is a species that is found in 10
different counties in the northern part of Florida (panhandle).
Daedalochila delecta are terrestrial and are found in wet,
weedy places usually hammocks or wet roadsides. They have
shells between 10-15 mm (Encyclopedia
of Life).