Unitas (gastropod)

Unitas is an extinct genus of fossil sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Euomphalidae. These snails lived during the Paleozoic Era, specifically in the Carboniferous and Permian periods. Unitas shells are characterized by their low-spired, discoidal to lenticular shape, and a wide umbilicus. Ornamentation often includes spiral cords or ribs. The genus is significant for understanding the evolutionary history and paleoecology of early gastropods. Identification of Unitas species relies heavily on shell morphology, particularly the shape and ornamentation of the whorls. The genus is found in fossil deposits across various continents, including North America and Europe.