Odontostomidae


Odontostomidae is a taxonomic family of medium-sized to large, air-breathing, tropical and sub-tropical land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod molluscs belonging to the superfamily Rhytidoidea.

Taxonomy

2005 taxonomy

This taxon was placed as the tribe Odontostomini, in the subfamily Bulimulinae, within the family Orthalicidae, according to the taxonomy of the Gastropoda (Bouchet & Rocroi, 2005).

2010 taxonomy

Breure et al. elevated Odontostomini to Odontostomidae.

Genera

Genera in the family Odontostomidae include:
;Synonyms:
  • Macrodontes Swainson, 1840: synonym of Odontostomus H. Beck, 1837
  • Macrodontopsis Thiele, 1931: synonym of Odontostomus H. Beck, 1837
  • Pantagruelina Forcart, 1946: synonym of Burringtonia Parodiz, 1944

Description

Species in this genus have the aperture obstructed by internal lamellae, folds or teeth ; the base is perforate or has an umbilical suture; and the genitalia are extremely lengthened. Jaw either plaited or solid.
These genera are confined to South America east of the Andes, and with the exception of some species, south of the Amazon. That the whole series had its inception in a form in which the characteristic apertural teeth had already been developed, is demonstrated by the fact that these lamella and folds are clearly homologous throughout the species of the several genera.