Pulmonidae

Pulmonidae is a family of land snails and slugs, belonging to the order Stylommatophora. These gastropod mollusks are characterized by having a lung-like cavity instead of gills, allowing them to breathe air. This adaptation is common among terrestrial pulmonates and has enabled them to colonize a wide variety of habitats on land. The family is found in many parts of the world, with a notable diversity in Europe and Asia.

Members of Pulmonidae exhibit a range of shell forms, from coiled shells that can be reduced or absent in some species, to completely internal shells. The absence or reduction of the shell is a common evolutionary trend in pulmonate snails, leading to the development of slugs. Their diet typically consists of decaying plant matter, fungi, and sometimes algae, though some species may be more herbivorous or even predatory. Reproduction in Pulmonidae is usually hermaphroditic, meaning individuals possess both male and female reproductive organs, but cross-fertilization is the norm. They lay eggs, which are often deposited in moist environments such as soil, under leaf litter, or in crevices. The family Pulmonidae is taxonomically complex, with ongoing research continually refining its classification and the relationships between its various genera and species.