Virginia Land Snails

Photo(s): Views of a Stenotrema edvardsi shell by Dan Dourson ©. Note the hairlike ridges above the periphery.

Click photo(s) to enlarge.

Stenotrema edvardsi (Bland, 1856)

Family: Polygyridae
Common name: Ridge-and-Valley Slitmouth

Identification
Width: 7-8 mm
Height: 4.5-5.5 mm
Whorls: 5+

The somewhat flattened, lens-shaped shell of Stenotrema edvardsi is angular at the periphery. The pattern of processes upon the shell of this animal is distinctive – with small, hairlike radial ridges on the upper surface, and short hairs at the periphery. The parietal tooth is low and long, and does not project as far as the basal lip. The basal notch is small and there is only a shallow interdenticular sinus.

Ecology
This animal prefers rocky wooded areas (Hubricht, 1985), and may be found in leaf litter and around logs and other features.

Taxonomy
Synonyms for S. edvardsi include: Helix edvardsi, Polygyra edwardsi, Stenotrema edvardsi, and S. edwardsii.

Distribution
Stenotrema edvardsi inhabits the Appalachian Mountains from Pennsylvania in the north to Georgia in the south (Pilsbry, 1940; Hubricht, 1985). In Virginia it may be found primarily in the western counties.

NatureServe Global Rank: G4G5
NatureServe State Rank: S3S4

 

Meegan Winslow, Ken Hotopp 11/2012

 

Range Map