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Xerocrassa simulata

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Xerocrassa simulata
Shell of Xerocrassa simulata
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Order: Stylommatophora
Family: Geomitridae
Genus: Xerocrassa
Species:
X. simulata
Binomial name
Xerocrassa simulata
Ehrenberg, 1831
Synonyms
  • Helix simulata Ehrenberg, 1831 (original combination)
  • Xerocrassa (Xerocrassa) simulata (Ehrenberg, 1831) · alternate representation
  • Xerophila (Ereminella) simulata (Ehrenberg, 1831)
  • Xerophila simulata (Ehrenberg, 1831) (superseded generic combination)

Xerocrassa simulata is a species of air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Geomitridae.[1] It is endemic to southern Spain, specifically adapted to dry Mediterranean climates. Like other land snails, it undergoes a life cycle that includes egg laying, hatching of juveniles, shell development, and reproductive maturity as adults. These snails play a crucial role in their ecosystem by recycling nutrients and serving as prey for various predators, highlighting their ecological significance in their native habitat.[2]

Distribution

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This species is common in the deserts and semideserts of the levantine region. Morphology varies greatly with locality.[3]

Life cycle

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The size of the egg of this species is 2.6 × 2.1 mm.[4]

Xerocrassa simulata : Diet, Mucus Production, and Effects on Biocrust CO2 Efflux

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Xerocrassa simulata (XS) exhibits a dietary preference for plant litter, distinguishing it from other desert snail species that primarily consume biological soil crust (biocrusts). In laboratory conditions, XS produces approximately 0.5 ± 0.1 mg of mucus per mg of body mass daily. Despite its dietary preference, XS mucus significantly affects biocrust activity through its deposition. The mucus increased CO2 efflux in both cyanobacteria-dominated and lichen/moss-dominated biocrusts, with consistent effects across different biocrust types (Hedges d effect sizes ranging from 1.28 to 1.44). For cyanobacteria-dominated biocrusts, XS mucus enhanced CO2 efflux by 106% compared to controls. These findings suggest that XS mucus acts as a potent stimulator of biocrust activity, regardless of the snail's primary diet or the specific biocrust community composition[5]

References

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  1. ^ MolluscaBase eds. (2022). MolluscaBase. Xerocrassa simulata (Ehrenberg, 1831). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=1262093 on 2022-08-06
  2. ^ DeWitt, Thomas J; McCarthy, Thomas M; Washick, Denise L; Clark, Anne B; Langerhans, R Brian (2018-08-01). "Predator avoidance behaviour in response to turtles and its adaptive value in the freshwater snail Planorbella campanulata". Journal of Molluscan Studies. 84 (3): 266–274. doi:10.1093/mollus/eyy025. ISSN 0260-1230.
  3. ^ Mienis, H.K., 2011. New or little known land- and freshwater molluscs from Israel 3. Xerocrassa simulata lothari, a new subspecies from some kurkar outcrops. Triton, 23: 35-38.
  4. ^ Heller J.: Life History Strategies. in Barker G. M. (ed.): The biology of terrestrial molluscs. CABI Publishing, Oxon, UK, 2001, ISBN 0-85199-318-4. 1-146, cited page: 428.
  5. ^ Rinehart, S.; Shamir Weller, N. D.; Hawlena, D. (2022-04-01). "Snail Mucus Increases the CO2 Efflux of Biological Soil Crusts". Ecosystems. 25 (3): 537–547. doi:10.1007/s10021-021-00670-4. ISSN 1435-0629.
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Media related to Xerocrassa simulata at Wikimedia Commons