Tegelikiko
Tegelikiko is a lesser-known, small terrestrial animal that is found in the high-altitude grasslands of the Trans-Caspian Plateau. The species is classified within the family Tegeliidae, which comprises a group of semi-slug-like mollusks that exhibit both pulmonate and gill-like respiratory adaptations. A distinctive feature of tegelikiko is its elongated, translucent mantle that covers a highly segmented shell, giving it a segmented appearance reminiscent of a stained‑glass mosaic. Adult tegelikikos measure between 3.5 and 4.5 centimetres in length and usually display a pale olive or mottled brown coloration, with faint longitudinal ridges on the dorsal surface.
Minor morphological traits include a reduction of the radula—a rasping tongue common to many mollusks—replaced by
Reproduction is oviparous; females lay clutches of approximately 30-45 translucent eggs, which are partially buried in
The conservation status of tegelikiko has not been formally evaluated by the IUCN, though localized habitat