{{Short description|Genus of gastropods}} {{for|the village in Iran|Latia, Iran}} {{Automatic_taxobox | image = Latia neritoides 3045869.jpg | image_caption = ''Latia neritoides'' bioluminescent slime | taxon = Latia | authority = Gray, 1850<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/96165#page/228/mode/1up |title=Description of a new Genus and Several New Species of Terrestrial, Fluviatile and Marine Molluscous Animals Inhabiting New Zealand |first=J. E., Esq. |last=Gray |authorlink=John Edward Gray |page=164 at 168 |journal=Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London |year=1849 |volume=17}}</ref>{{efn|Gray's paper was read on 11 December 1949, and presumably not published until 1850 notwithstanding the date of the journal.}} | diversity_ref = <ref name="Strong 2008">Strong E. E., Gargominy O., Ponder W. F. & Bouchet P. (2008). "Global Diversity of Gastropods (Gastropoda; Mollusca) in Freshwater". ''Hydrobiologia'' 595: 149-166. {{hdl|10088/7390}} {{doi|10.1007/s10750-007-9012-6}}.</ref><ref name="Marshall 2011"/> | diversity_link = | diversity = one or three extant species,<br/> one fossil species | synonyms_ref = | synonyms = ''Pelex'' <small>Gould, 1852</small> }}
'''''Latia''''' is a genus of very small, air-breathing freshwater snails or limpets, aquatic pulmonate gastropod molluscs in the superfamily Chilinoidea.<ref name="Bouchet 2005">{{Bouchet 2005}}</ref>
''Latia'' is the only genus in the family '''Latiidae'''.
Species in this genus are the only freshwater bioluminescent molluscs in the world.<ref name="Bowden">BERNARD J. BOWDEN (1950). [http://www.biolbull.org/cgi/reprint/99/3/373 SOME OBSERVATIONS ON A LUMINESCENT FRESHWATER LIMPET FROM NEW ZEALAND] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725160918/http://www.biolbull.org/cgi/reprint/99/3/373 |date=2011-07-25 }}. ''Biol Bull'' '''99''': 373-380.</ref>
== Taxonomy == The family Latiidae has been classified within the superfamily Chilinoidea, itself belonging to the clade Hygrophila within the informal group Basommatophora in the informal group Pulmonata (according to the taxonomy of the Gastropoda by Bouchet & Rocroi, 2005).<ref name="Bouchet 2005"/>
There are no subfamilies in the family Latiidae (according to the taxonomy of the Gastropoda by Bouchet & Rocroi, 2005).<ref name="Bouchet 2005"/>
''Latia'' is the only genus in the family Latiidae, in other words Latiidae is a monotypic family and ''Latia'' is the type genus of the family Latiidae. This genus was previously placed instead in a larger family of freshwater limpets, the Ancylidae.
==Distribution== This genus is endemic to the North Island of New Zealand.
==Habitat== This genus lives in clean running streams and rivers.<ref>Powell A. W. B. (1979). ''New Zealand Mollusca'', William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand, {{ISBN|0-00-216906-1}}.</ref>
==Shell description== Shell is ancyliform, with the apex marginal, and situated at the left posterior side, incurved, small.<ref name="Suter"/>
Aperture is very large, oval. The margin of the aperture is thin and sharp; posteriorly with a narrow, thin, concave lamina, its right edge bent down and free, forming a thin and sharp-edged vertical lamella.<ref name="Suter"/>
== Anatomy == This genus is remarkable by the absence of a jaw.<ref name="Suter"/>
Animal has eyes at the outer bases of the tentacles. The foot is elongated oval. The pulmonary cavity, its opening on the right side. Visceral commissure is long. There is no jaw. Central tooth of radula is bicuspidate, laterals are unicuspidate and marginals are tricuspidate.<ref name="Suter"/>
==Life habits== These freshwater limpets are capable of secreting a bioluminescent substance when disturbed.<ref name="Bowden"/> Theories vary as to the purpose of the bioluminescence, but indicate it is a defence mechanism. One theory is that when disturbed by a predator, ''Latia'' release the bioluminescent slime, and the predator chases the light rather than the snail. Another theory is that the slime will attach to the predator causing confusion and alarm, or indeed, making the predator vulnerable and visible to other nocturnal predators.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.waitakere.govt.nz/abtcit/ei/ecowtr/macroinv/bugsadultinfo.asp#latia|title=Underwater Life - Macroinvertibrates - More Information|year=2011|publisher=(Formerly Waitakere City Council) Auckland City Council|accessdate=September 1, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121027033101/http://www.waitakere.govt.nz/abtcit/ei/ecowtr/macroinv/bugsadultinfo.asp#latia|archive-date=October 27, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="RSNZ">{{cite web|url=http://nwp.rsnz.org/content/projects_latia.htm|title=School Water Monitoring Project - Latia - the brightest freshwater invertebrate in the world|date=October 3, 2006|publisher=National Waterways Project - The Royal Society of New Zealand|accessdate=September 1, 2012|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120301102923/http://nwp.rsnz.org/content/projects_latia.htm|archivedate=March 1, 2012}}</ref> As the ''Latia'' release the slime when feeling threatened, it is conceivable ''Latia'' could be used as a monitor for illegal pollution dumping<ref name="RSNZ"/> or other water quality issues.
==Species== Species in the genus ''Latia'' include: * ''Latia climoi'' <small>Starobogatov, 1986</small> * ''Latia lateralis'' <small>(Gould, 1852)</small> * † ''Latia manuherikia'' <small>Marshall, 2011</small> - from the Early–Middle Miocene<ref name="Marshall 2011">Marshall B. A. (2011). "A new species of ''Latia'' Gray, 1850 (Gastropoda: Pulmonata: Hygrophila: Chilinoidea: Latiidae) from Miocene Palaeo-lake Manuherikia, southern New Zealand, and biogeographic implications". ''Molluscan Research'' '''31'''(1): 47-52. [http://www.mapress.com/mr/content/v31/2011f/n1p052.htm abstract].</ref> * ''Latia neritoides'' <small>Gray, 1850</small> - type species (type by monotypy)
==Notes== {{notelist}}
==References== This article incorporates public domain text from the reference<ref name="Suter">Suter H. (1913). [https://archive.org/details/manualofnewzeala00sute ''Manual of the New Zealand Mollusca'']. Wellington. pages 615-616.</ref> {{Reflist}} * Marshall, B.A. (2011). ''A new species of Latia Gray, 1850 (Gastropoda: Pulmonata: Hygrophila: Chilinoidea: Latiidae) from Miocene palaeo-lake Manuherikia, southern New Zealand, and biogeographic implications''. Molluscan Research 31 (1): 47–52.
== External links == {{Commons category|Latia}} * [http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/nights/audio/20172067/native-fish Radio interview with scientist Stella McQueen discussing ''Latia'']
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Category:Latia Category:Bioluminescent molluscs Category:Gastropod genera Category:Panpulmonata Category:Taxa named by John Edward Gray