Land Snails

Photos: Image not available at this time

Stenotrema simile Grimm, 1971

Family: Polygyridae
Common name: Bear Creek Slitmouth

Identification
Width: ~9.3 mm
Height: ~6.7 mm
Whorls: 5+

The shell of Stenotrema simileis pill-shaped, subglobose, with a closed umbilicus. It is well-armored, with a narrow, reflected aperture and covered with bristles. Shell color varies from cinnamon brown to olive (Grimm, 1971). Its fulcrum, an internal denticle sometimes visible through the base, is shorter and its basal notch more pronounced than in the similar-looking S. hirsutum. There isa knob-like tooth on the peripheral side of the basal notch (Grimm, 1971). Coarse granulations on the embryonic whorl are another diagnostic character.

Ecology
Stenotrema simile inhabits cool wet woods and ravines, and tends to be found at lower population densities than S. hirsutum (Grimm, 1971). It is found under leaf litter and woody debris on rugged hillsides (Grimm, 1971; Hubricht, 1985).

Taxonomy
There are no synonyms.

Distribution
Stenotrema simile is a Central Appalachian Mountain endemic known only from western Maryland and eastern West Virginia. While it is spread over several counties it is little-reported.

Conservation
NatureServe Rank: G2, Imperiled.
NatureServe State Ranks: Maryland, SU, Status Unknown; West Virginia, SNR, Not Ranked.

Ken Hotopp 12/2017

Range Map (click to enlarge)