Land Snails

Photo(s): The shell of Cochlicopa lubricella, © Jeff Nekola.

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

Click photo(s) to enlarge.

Cochlicopa lubricella (Porro, 1838)

Family: Cionellidae
Common name: Thin Pillar

Identification
Width: 2.1-2.5 mm
Height: 4.5- 6.8 mm
Whorls: 5+

The elongate shell of this animal is small, yellowish-brown, and sometimes has a rosy lip color. It is smaller and more cylindrical than C. lubrica, though there may be some size overlap.

Ecology
Cochlicopa lubricella can occur in colonies on developed sites, sometimes on lawns and around driveways. Densities may reach dozens per square meter. It is sometimes reported with C. lubrica, noting that the two are taxonomically very similar. However, C. lubricella tends to favor richer and drier habitats (Kerney & Cameron, 1979). In Maine it occurs scattered in a variety of forest habitats (Nekola, 2008).

Taxonomy
Cochlicopa lubricella has also been known as Cionella lubricella.

Distribution
Cochlicopa lubricella is introduced from Europe. In North America it ranges across southeastern Canada and the Northeastern and Midwestern United States, reported as far west as South Dakota. Its distribution in Virginia is patchy and poorly known.

Conservation
NatureServe Global Rank: G5, Secure.

 

Ken Hotopp, Meegan Winslow 9/2012

Range Map (click to enlarge)