Virginia Land Snails

Photo(s): Ventridens intertextus by Bill Frank ©.

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Ventridens intertextus (A. Binney, 1841)

Family: Gastrodontidae
Common name: Pyramid Dome

Identification
Width: 12.0 – 18.5 mm
Height: 7.3 – 13.3 mm
Whorls: 6+

The apex of this species’ shell is relatively high and spire acute. The final whorl may be slightly angular, often with a light-colored band at the periphery. The shell texture of Ventridens intertextus consists of very fine oblique and spiral striae intersecting each other. The aperture is rounded with a thin lip with a callus lining within, and is a bit reflected close to where it meets the previous whorl. The umbilicus is tiny. This species can be differentiated from V. ligera by looking at the base, which has spiral striae and lacks the gloss present on V. ligera.

Ecology
This species is found in woods with acid soils, in the leaf litter. In Kentucky it is found in hardwood forest ravines, hillsides, and acidic ridgetops (Dourson, 2010). However, in Tennessee, V. intertextus has been reported in young forests where dolomite is predominant (Coney et al, 1982).

Taxonomy
Synonyms for V. intertextus are Gastrodonta intertexta, Helix intertexta, Zonites intertextus, and Zonitoides (Ventricallus) intertextus.

Distribution
Ventridens intertextus is found across much of the East, from southern Ontario, New York and Michigan, south to east Texas and northern Florida. It has been reported from south central and western Virginia.

NatureServe Global Rank: G5
NatureServe State Rank: S3

 

Ken Hotopp, Greg Kimber, Meegan Winslow 11/2012

Range Map