Family ZONITIDAE Mörch, 1864

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Introduction

This family of land snails is almost worldwide in distribution, but has been introduced to Australia. Typically, the species have thin, low spired, transparent to translucent shells and are often collectively called 'glass snails'. Several species have been introduced into the temperate to sub-tropical parts of Australia where they occur in gardens and other damp, sheltered situations. They are classed as beneficial introductions since they feed on non-green vegetable matter and on small animals such as insect larvae and pest species of molluscs.

Burch (1976) used the name Vitrinidae for this family, but this work follows Zilch (1959) in the use of the name Zonitidae. Revisions of members of the family in Australia have been carried out by Long (1972) and Bishop (1978).

The family is characterized by the small to medium sized, flattened shells with little or no sculpture. In Australia, they are found mainly in gardens and other introduced vegetation.

General References

Bishop, M.J. 1978. Zonitoides arboreus (Say) (Pulmonata : Zonitidae) introduced into Australia and the identity of Alienator Iredale. Journal of the Malacological Society of Australia 4: 7-8

Burch, J.B. 1976. Outline of classification of Australian terrestrial molluscs (native and introduced). Journal of the Malacological Society of Australia 3: 127-156

Long, D.C. 1972. Zonitid snails (Gastropoda : Pulmonata) introduced into Victoria. Memoirs of the National Museum of Victoria, Melbourne 33: 115-120

Smith, B.J. 1998. Family Zonitidae. 1104 in Beesley, P.L., Ross, G.J.B. & Wells, A. (eds). Mollusca: The Southern Synthesis. Fauna of Australia. Melbourne : CSIRO Publishing Vol. 5(Part B) pp. vi–viii, 565–1234.

Solem, A. 1989. Non-camaenid land snails of the Kimberley and Northern Territory, Australia. I. Systematics, affinities and ranges. Invertebrate Taxonomy 2(4): 455-604

Zilch, A. 1959. Gastropoda. Teil 2. Euthyneura. In, Schindewolf, O.H. (ed.). Handbuch der Paläozoologie. Berlin-Zehlendorf : Bornträger Vol. 6(2)(2) xii 834 pp.

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