- Source: Atopos
Atopos is a genus of carnivorous air-breathing land slugs, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Rathouisiidae.
Species
Species within the genus Atopos include:
Atopos aborense (Ghosh, 1913)
Atopos australis Heynemann, 1876
Atopos cristagalli P. Sarasin & F. Sarasin, 1899
Atopos galeatus Simroth, 1920
Atopos harmeri Collinge, 1902
Atopos kempii Ghose, 1913
Atopos leuckarti Simroth, 1891
Atopos laidlawi Collinge, 1902
Atopos maximus Collinge 1903
Atopos ouwensi Collinge, 1908
Atopos prismatica Tapparone-Canefri, 1883
Atopos pristis P. Sarasin & F. Sarasin, 1899
Atopos punctata Collinge, 1902
Atopos rugosus Collinge, 1902
Atopos sanguinolentus Ghosh, 1912
Atopos sarasini Collinge 1902
Atopos schildii Babor, 1900
Atopos scutulatus P. Sarasin & F. Sarasin, 1899
Atopos semperi Simroth, 1891
Atopos simrothi P. Sarasin & F. Sarasin, 1899
Atopos smithi (Collinge, 1902)
Atopos strubelli Simroth, 1891
Atopos tourannensis (Eydoux & Souleyet, 1852)
Synonyms:
Atopos leonina (Heude, 1882) is a synonym of Rathouisia leonina Heude, 1882
Distribution
The predatory carnivorous slugs in the genus Atopos are found in peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Borneo, New Guinea, northeast Australia and, recently, Singapore.
Feeding habits
Bornean Atopos specialising in Opisthostoma are known to tailor their approach to the size of the prey. They hold small snails with the shells aperture-upward with the front of its foot and eat their way down. Larger ones scrape away the shell to allow access through the spire. This behaviour is thought to drive the evolution of shell ornamentation in Opisthostoma.
References
External links
photo of predating by Atopos (figure b)