Marsh Liptooth
(Daedalochila triodontoides)
Classification
The picture above is of a land
snail with similar
characteristics
to Daedalochila triodontoides.
Marsh Liptooth belongs to the domain Eukarya because it possesses cells with a true nucleus (Hickman, et al., 2009). In eukaryotic cells, the nucleus is bound by a nuclear envelope, which keeps the genetic material inside the nucleus (Hickman, et al., 2009). A eukaryote also possesses other membrane bound organelles, and goes through cell division, which includes both meiosis and mitosis (Hickman, et al., 2009).
Kingdom- Animalia
Marsh Liptooth belongs to the kingdom Animalia because it is a multicellular, eukaryotic, heterotrophic organism (Hickman, et al., 2009). Marsh Liptooth, as well as most other organisms belonging to the kingdom Animalia, have a specific reproductive pattern that includes a blastula stage, which is specific to the kingdom Animalia (Hickman, et al., 2009).
Phylum- Mollusca
Marsh Liptooth belongs to the phylum Mollusca because it is an invertebrate containing a muscular foot (Hickman, et al., 2009). Mollusks, including Marsh Liptooth, contain an epidermal layer of tissue called the mantle, which covers the body of the organism (Hickman, et al., 2009). Mollusks are mostly marine and freshwater, and many are also adapted to live in terrestrial environments as well (Hickman, et al., 2009).
Class- Gastropoda
The class Gastropoda is made up of snails and slugs (Hickman, et al., 2009). Marsh Liptooth belongs to the gastropods because it shares the defining characteristic of the gastropods, which is torsion (Hickman, et al., 2009). Many Gastropods have a shell that coils as the organism ages, and the organism's body can retreat inside the shell (Hickman, et al., 2009). Torsion causes the mantle cavity to lie over the mouth and head and causes the nervous system and the gut to twist (Hickman, et al., 2009). This happens because the mantle foot and the visceral cavity are rotated (Hickman, et al., 2009). Marsh Liptooth is monoecious and has a muscular foot, which are also characteristics specific to some of the gastropods (Hickman, et al., 2009).
Order- Stylommatophora
Marsh Liptooth belongs to the order Stylommatophora because it possesses a pair of retractile tentacles, which is specific to the order Stylommatophora (About.com. Animals/Wildlife, 2012). Also, Marsh Liptooth possesses a suprapedal gland, which is a long gland that produces mucus located underneath the membrane in the muscular foot, and is another characteristic specific to the order Stylommatophora (About.com. Animals/Wildlife, 2012). In addtion, most land snails have to have some adaptation to be able to breathe on land, and in this case, Marsh Liptooth has modified its mantle to act as a lung (Hickman, et al., 2009).
Family- Polygyridae
The family Polygyridae is a family of air breathing snails lacking dart apparatus, or love dart (BOLDSYSTEMSv2.5, 2012). They are terrestrial or land bound snails with ribbed jaws (BOLDSYSTEMSv2.5, 2012). Marsh Liptooth belongs to this family because it possesses all of the above characteristics (BOLDSYSTEMSv2.5, 2012).
Genus- Daedalochila
Marsh Liptooth is a small snail belonging to the genus Daedalochila (Hickman, et al., 2009). Marsh Liptooth belongs to this genus because it has a narrow opening in its shell because of extensive foldings that cause the narrowness of the hole (BOLDSYSTEMSv2.5, 2012).
Species-Daedalochila triodontoides
Marsh Liptooth's scientific name is Daedalochila triodontoides. After breaking down the name of our snail into its latin and greek roots, we found that "daedal-" means "intricate," "-chila" means "lip," "tri-" means "three," "dont-" means "do not," and "-ides" means "the same" (GOOGLE, 2012). So, we came to the conclusion that our snail was given this species name because it must have three lips that do not look the same. As far as the common name goes, going off of what the scientific name means, our snail was given the name "Marsh Liptooth" because it has three teeth on its lip, and our snail lives in moist areas like a marsh.
Habitat is next, or go back to the home page!
**Subheadings (ZipcodeZoo.com)