Classification

 

Domain Eukarya:  Includes all organisms with cells having a membrane bound nucleus

 

Kingdom Animalia:  Includes multicellular organisms without cell walls that ingest their food.

 

Phylum Mollusca:  This group contains a wide variety of soft-bodied, bilaterally symmetrical organisms.

 

Class Gastropoda:  A defining characteristic in this taxon is the torsion process during the veliger larva stage.

 

Order Stylommatophora:  This group contains pulmonate gastropods with two pairs of tentacles.

 

Family Polygyridae:  The taxon of air breathing land snails.  The family is differentiated from other Stylommatophora families because they are lacking the love dart, have a single band of muscle to retract the eyes and pharynx, and have ribbed jaws.

 

Genus Daedalochila:  Daedalochila means intricate lip in Latin, which is in reference  to the aperture of the shell.

 

Species  D. scintilla:  The word scintilla is Latin for spark, as in a bit or an iota, possibly referring to the diminutive size of the snail.

 

Sources: (Encyclopedia of Life, 2012), (Dictionary.com, LLC, 2012)

To view a collection of snail pictures click here.