Land Snails
Photo(s): Views of a Cernuella cisalpina shell © Dan Dourson
Click photo(s) to enlarge.
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Cernuella cisalpina (Rossmässler, 1837) (non-native)
Family: Hygromiidae
Common name: Maritime Gardensnail
Identification
Width: 8-10 mm
Height: 5-6 mm
Whorls: 5.5-6
The shell is heliciform, the lip is simple with a slight reflection. It is perforate to umbilicate, whitish with light color bands and strongly developed transverse striae are present.
Ecology
This species is an endemic to Northern Italy that has been introduced to Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands. It is found most often in dry habitats with little vegetation and in cultivated areas. It is known to be transported by attaching itself to automobiles (ICUN Red List website) which may explain how it was found in along a road cut in West Virginia in 2015. Although it has a place on the ICUN Red List of Threatened species, it is listed as a species of least concern due to its preference for habitat that is least likely to be affected by human disturbance.
This species of snail is also one that employs love darts in courtship behavior.
Taxonomy
Synonyms include Cernuella ionica and Helicella profuga
Distribution
Currently, only documented in the state of West Virginia, in Fayette County.
Conservation
NatureServe Rank: G5, Secure.
Dan Dourson 5/2017
