Land Snails

Photo(s): Cochlicopa lubrica’s shell is quite glossy, © Larry Watrous. Upper image © Francisco Welter Schultes.


Illustration © Kathy Schmidt from her series "Land Snails of New York State".

Click photo(s) to enlarge.

Cochlicopa lubrica (Müller, 1774)

Family: Cionellidae
Common name: Glossy Pillar

Identification
Width: 2.4-2.9 mm
Height: 5.0-7.5 mm
Whorls: 5+

The glossy shell of this animal is robust, with rounded whorls and im­pressed sutures. It is shorter and wider than the Appalachian Pillar, usually with a body whorl of more than 2.4 mm diameter. The aperture has a thickened edge and the gradually-tapered spire is rounded at the top.

Ecology
This holarctic species is found in a variety of open habitats - wetlands, grasslands, or roadsides (Hubricht, 1985). In Maine this species favors calcium-rich habitats and is most frequent in shrub carr wetlands and on limestone outcrops (Nekola, 2008).

Taxonomy
Synonyms for Cochlicopa lubrica include Bulimus lubricoides, B. lubricus, Cionella lubrica, C. sybcylindrica, Ferussacia subcylindrica, Helix lubricus, Zua buddii, and Z. lubricoidea.

Distribution
In North America it occurs from British Columbia and Hudson Bay in Canada, south to California, Kansas and Virginia. In Virginia it is absent except for the west, north, and Chesapeake County.

Conservation
NatureServe Global Rank: G5, Secure.

 

Ken Hotopp, Meegan Winslow 9/2012

Range Map (click to enlarge)