Megalobulimus popelairianus

Megalobulimus popelairianus occurs in Ecuador, in Bolivia (doubtful)[2] and in Brazil.[1]

The shell is very large, solid, rimate, ovate-conic. The spire is subregularly tapering and the penultimate whorl is somewhat bulging. The last whorl is depressed on the back. The color of the shell is dark reddish-brown or rich chestnut with narrow darker streaks and a lighter margin below the suture. The earlier whorls are dull reddish. The apex is white. The surface is covered with a strong cuticle, shining. Nepionic shell is distinctly marked, with 4 whorls, sculptured with strong narrow radial riblets, which on fourth whorl become obsolete toward suture below. Succeeding whorls 2, having growth-wrinkles and a dense but rather irregular spiral granulation which fades out upon last whorl, which is more coarsely sculptured by lengthwise wrinkles and has generally more or less- coarse spiral malleation. Sutures are deep, the last decidedly more oblique.[2]

The aperture is about half the shell's length, trapezoidal, white with a livid tint within. Outer lip is well reflexed, white (or light-brown edged), convexly curved. Columella is white, reflexed, and in the immediate vicinity of its insertion spreading upon the whorl and continued in a strong white callus across the parietal wall. Near the upper termination of parietal callus there are usually one or two low callous nodules.[2]

The width of the adult shell varies from 85 to 98 mm, the height from 136–155 mm.[2]

Megalobulimus popelairianus has the largest eggs of all land gastropods. The size of the egg is 51 × 35 mm[3] (see also Stanlen 1917).

This article incorporates public domain text from reference.[2]

Stanlen R. 1917. On the calcareous eggs of terrestrial Mollusca. Journal of Conchology 15: 154-164.