Otala punctata
Otala punctata is a species of air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Helicidae.
| Otala punctata | |
|---|---|
 | |
| A live individual of Otala punctata | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
| Class: | |
| (unranked): | clade Heterobranchia clade Euthyneura clade Panpulmonata clade Eupulmonata clade Stylommatophora informal group Sigmurethra |
| Superfamily: | |
| Family: | |
| Genus: | |
| Species: | O. punctata |
| Binomial name | |
| Otala punctata (O. F. Müller, 1774) | |
Distribution
This species occurs in the Mediterranean basin - Andorra, Spain, the Balearic Islands, France, Corsica, Sardinia and Malta
This species is already established in the United States, and is considered to represent a potentially serious threat as a pest, an invasive species which could negatively affect agriculture, natural ecosystems, human health or commerce. Therefore it has been suggested that this species be given top national quarantine significance in the USA.[1]
Three views of the shell:
 apical view |  apertural view. |  umbilical view |
Culinary
They are prepared in a typical dish in South Spain, "cabrillas", cooked in spicy tomato sauce.
References
- Cowie R. H., Dillon R. T., Robinson D. G. & Smith J. W. (2009). "Alien non-marine snails and slugs of priority quarantine importance in the United States: A preliminary risk assessment". American Malacological Bulletin 27: 113-132. PDF Archived 2016-06-16 at the Wayback Machine.
External links
- Otala punctata on the UF / IFAS Featured Creatures Web site
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