Cepaea
| Cepaea | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| White-lipped snail Cepaea hortensis | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| (unranked): | clade Heterobranchia clade Euthyneura clade Panpulmonata clade Eupulmonata clade Stylommatophora informal group Sigmurethra |
| Superfamily: | Helicoidea |
| Family: | Helicidae |
| Genus: |
Cepaea Held, 1838 |
| Type species | |
|
Helix nemoralis Linnaeus, 1758 |
|
Cepaea is a genus of medium-sized air-breathing land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Helicidae. The shells of species within this genus are often brightly colored and patterned with stripes. Species from this genus, in particular the common and widespread C. nemoralis and C. hortensis, have been model species for early studies of genetics and natural selection. They occur in Europe, although introduced populations occur elsewhere in the world.
Like many Helicidae, this genus of snails create and use love darts.
Four species are currently classified in the genus Cepaea.
However, molecular phylogenetic studies suggest that the latter two should be placed in unrelated genera:
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Wikipedia