Systellommatophora | |
---|---|
Land slug Laevicaulis alte ( Veronicelloidea) | |
Sea slug Onchidella sp. ( Onchidioidea) | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Mollusca |
Class: | Gastropoda |
Subclass: | Heterobranchia |
Superorder: | Eupulmonata |
Order: | Systellommatophora |
Families | |
See text | |
Synonyms | |
Gymnomorpha |
The Systellommatophora (synonym Gymnomorpha) is a clade of primitive, air-breathing slugs, according to the taxonomy of the Gastropoda (Bouchet & Rocroi, 2005). [1]
They are marine and terrestrial pulmonate gastropods within the Heterobranchia. There are two superfamilies in this clade. Slugs in the superfamily Onchidioidea are primarily marine (except for five land-dwelling or freshwater species), [2] whereas slugs in the superfamily Veronicelloidea are primarily terrestrial.
No species in this clade have shells as adults. [2] [3] These slugs are distinguished by the location of the anus at the rear of the body. [4]
Although neither superfamily bears shells as adults, [3] the Onchidioidea do possess a vestigial, non-mineralized shell sac [5] and possess a larval shell. [6] It is not known whether or not the veronicellids bear a larval shell. [7]
According to the previous taxonomy of the Gastropoda (Ponder & Lindberg, 1997) Systellommatophora was considered to be a suborder or an order. [8]
The following two superfamilies and families have been recognized in the taxonomy of Bouchet & Rocroi (2005):