Zool. [ad. mod.L. testacella (also in Eng. use), dim. of testācea, fem. of testāce-us adj.: see TESTACEA.] A genus of carnivorous land-slugs, typical of the family Testacellidæ, having a small oval shield-like shell, which covers only a small part of the back. They live upon earthworms, and inhabit Southern Europe; one species is sometimes found in England.
1846. Smart, Suppl., Testacel, a little shell; applied as the general name of a slug which is furnished with a diminutive Shell that forms a shield to the heart.
1851. Woodward, Mollusca, I. 13. The testacelle … preys on the common earth-worm, following it in its burrow, and wearing a buckler, which protects it in the rear.
1910. Daily News, 9 May, 4. The slug which ‘by good fortune we may catch sight of eating a worm,’ is testacella.
Hence Testacellid, Testacellidan adjs., of or pertaining to the family Testacellidæ; sbs. a member of this family; Testacelloid a., resembling the Testacella or Testacellidæ.
1895. Funk’s Stand. Dict., Testacellid … Testacelloid.
1895. Cambridge Nat. Hist., III. 440. Jaw present, radula Testacellidan, central tooth present.
