Virginia Land Snails

Photo(s): Cochlicopa morseana has a taller shell than its relatives, by Larry Watrous ©.

Click photo(s) to enlarge.

Cochlicopa morseana Doherty, 1878

Common name: Appalachian Pillar

Identification
Width: 2.3- 2.5 mm
Height: 6.6- 7.2 mm
Whorls: 5+

This animal’s shell is columnar, with impressed sutures and an obtuse apex. It may be colored yellow to dark amber. This shell stands out among leaf litter and other shells because of its glossy shine and elongate shape. It is taller and browner than Cochlicopa lubrica.

Ecology
Cochlicopa morseana is a forest animal that occurs in the leaf litter of cool, ma­ture woodlands.It tends to occur at low densities in deep leaf litter. In Tennessee it was found in leaf litter and log microhabitats (Coney etal, 1982).

Taxonomy
Cochlicopa morseana has also been known as Cionella morseana, Cochlicopa lubrica appalachicola, C. l. morseana, and Ferussacia subcylindrica.

Distribution
This is an Eastern species occurring from Québec south to northern Alabama and Arkansas. In Virginia it is found in the western highlands.

NatureServe Global Rank: G5
NatureServe State Rank: S4

 

Ken Hotopp, Meegan Winslow 9/2012

Range Map