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
  • Atopos australis Heynemann, 1876
  • Atopos cristagalli P. Sarasin & F. Sarasin, 1899
  • Atopos galeatus Simroth, 1920
  • Atopos harmeri Collinge, 1902Atopos kempii Ghose, 1913
  • Atopos leuckarti Simroth, 1891Atopos laidlawi Collinge, 1902Atopos maximus Collinge 1903Atopos ouwensi Collinge, 1908Atopos prismatica Tapparone-Canefri, 1883
  • Atopos pristis P. Sarasin & F. Sarasin, 1899Atopos punctata Collinge, 1902Atopos rugosus Collinge, 1902
  • Atopos sanguinolentus Ghosh, 1912Atopos sarasini Collinge 1902
  • Atopos schildii Babor, 1900
  • Atopos scutulatus P. Sarasin & F. Sarasin, 1899Atopos semperi Simroth, 1891
  • Atopos simrothi P. Sarasin & F. Sarasin, 1899
  • Atopos smithi
  • Atopos strubelli Simroth, 1891
  • Atopos tourannensis
Synonyms:Atopos leonina 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.