Virginia Land Snails

Photo(s): The shell of Stenotrema spinosum has a very angular periphery, as seen in these images by Dan Dourson ©.

Click photo(s) to enlarge.

Stenotrema spinosum (Lea, 1830)

Family: Polygyridae
Common name: Carinate Slitmouth

Identification
Width: 11.5-14.5 mm
Height: 5.0-6.5 mm
Whorls: 5+

The smooth shell of Stenotrema spinosum is lens-like, with a very sharp, angular periphery. Very weak spiral striae may be seen on the base (Pilsbry, 1940). The aperture is straight and the notch in the basal lip is so slight as to be almost invisible. The long, curved parietal tooth leans toward the basal lip and is high in the middle.

Ecology
This animal can be found around logs in calcium-rich wooded areas (Hubricht, 1985).

Taxonomy
Synonyms for S. spinosum are Carocolla spinosa, Helix spinosa, Polygyra spinosa, and Stenotrema spinosum.

Distribution
Stenotrema spinosum occupies the southeastern United States, from Mississippi and Alabama in the south, to the western counties of Virginia in the north. It is reported in Virginia only from the southwestern counties.

NatureServe Global Rank: G4
NatureServe State Rank: S2
Virginia’s wildlife action plan: Tier III

 

Meegan Winslow, Ken Hotopp 11/2012

 

Range Map