Attenborougharion rubicundus

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Attenborougharion rubicundus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Phylum:
Class:
(unranked):
Superfamily:
Family:
Subfamily:
Genus:
Attenborougharion

Hyman & Köhler, 2017[2]
Species:
A. rubicundus
Binomial name
Attenborougharion rubicundus
(Dartnall & Kershaw, 1978)[3]
Synonyms

Helicarion rubicundus Dartnall & Kershaw, 1978

Attenborougharion rubicundus is a species of air-breathing semi-slug, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod molluscs in the family Helicarionidae.

It has been referred to as the "burgundy snail",[1] but should not be confused with Helix pomatia, which is also known by that name.

Taxonomy[edit]

This species was described under the name Helicarion rubicundus in 1978.[3] The species was reassigned from genus Helicarion to Attenborougharion its own monotypic genus, named after David Attenborough, in 2017 by researchers at the Australian Museum.[4] The description of this genus was formally published on 9 August 2017.[2]

Distribution[edit]

This species is endemic to Australia, and is known only from the Forestier Peninsula and a small portion of the Tasman Peninsula on the island of Tasmania.[2]

Description[edit]

These semi-slugs are about 27.5–45 mm in length and are bright green and bright red.[2]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Smith B. (1996). Helicarion rubicundus. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 7 August 2007.
  2. ^ a b c d Hyman, I.; Köhler, F. (2017). "Attenborougharion gen. nov. (Mollusca: Pulmonata: Helicarionidae): a likely case of convergent evolution in southeastern Tasmania". Records of the Australian Museum. 69 (2): 65–72. doi:10.3853/j.2201-4349.69.2017.1676.
  3. ^ a b Dartnall, A. J., & Kershaw R. C. (1978). "Description of a new species of Helicarion (Stylommatophora: Helicarionidae) in Tasmania". Records of the Queen Victoria Museum 62: 1–18.
  4. ^ Love, Madelaine (2017-02-07). "Native Tasmanian snail named after Sir David Attenborough". The Australian Museum. Retrieved 2017-02-09.

External links[edit]