Virginia Land Snails

Photo(s): The coastal Neohelix solemi by Bill Frank ©.

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Neohelix solemi Emberton, 1988

Family: Polygyridae
Common name: Coastal Whitelip

Identification
Width: 23-35 mm
Height: 15-25 mm
Whorls: 5-6

The large, globe-shaped shell of Neohelix solemi has a closed umbilicus and a simple reflected lip. The shell microsculpture is fine radial ridges. The shell is usually darker brown and has a slightly taller shell (relative to its width) with a narrower lip, in comparison to its look-alike congeners N. albolabris and N. major (Emberton, 1988).

Ecology
This species is one of three large whitelip snails in Virginia, and the least-known. Only recently described as a unique species, its habitat preferences have not been distinguished from those of N. albolabris, which is a forest-dweller, often in leaf litter and sometimes on woody debris, but also found in open habitats. Neohelix solemi may be stunted in size when living on very sandy soils (Triodopsis albolabris form traversensis [maritima]; Pilsbry, 1940).

Taxonomy
Synonyms for N. solemi include Helix albolabris var. maritima and T.a. form traversensis.

Distribution
Neohelix solemi is an animal of the Atlantic Coastal Plain, from South Carolina perhaps as far north as Maine (material north of New York has not been thoroughly studied; Emberton, 1988). In Virginia, specimens are reported from several coastal counties.

NatureServe Global Rank: G4
NatureServe State Rank: not listed

 

Ken Hotopp 1/2013

Range Map