Blanidae

Blanidae is a family of terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks within the clade Stylommatophora. The taxonomic status of Blanidae has varied, and different authorities have treated it as a distinct family, as a subfamily within related families, or as a synonym of other taxa. Molecular phylogenetic studies in recent years have helped clarify relationships among small land snail lineages, but there is not complete consensus on the composition of Blanidae across all classifications.

Species placed in Blanidae are generally small to minute land snails. They are characterized by their reduced size and shell morphology that can vary among genera. Like other stylommatophorans, they are hermaphroditic and reproduce by laying eggs, and they typically inhabit moist microhabitats such as leaf litter, moss, or under logs and stones.

Distribution and habitat: Blanidae taxa are found in the Old World, with many records from Europe, the Mediterranean basin, and adjacent regions. Some species are adapted to montane or karst environments, where cave or crevice microhabitats provide shelter from desiccation.

Conservation and observation: As with many small terrestrial mollusks, data on population status are incomplete for many Blanidae species. Habitat loss, climate change, and pollution can threaten local populations. The group is of interest to malacologists studying the diversity and evolution of land snails and to conservationists monitoring mollusk biodiversity.