Land Snails

Photo(s): Shell of Hawaiia alachuana, © Larry Watrous.

Click photo(s) to enlarge.

Hawaiia alachuana (Dall, 1885)

Family: Pristilomatidae
Common name: Southeastern Gem

Identification
Width: ~2.4 mm
Height: ~1.1 mm
Whorls: 4+

The tiny, thin shell of Hawaiia alachuana is depressed, with rounded whorls and a wide umbilicus. The nuclear whorl and the base are smooth, but later whorls are sculptured with growth wrinkles. The aperture is thin-lipped and it has more pronounced growth wrinkles than the similar Lucilla scintilla, according to Hubricht (1962) who mistakenly described it as the new species Helicodiscus jacksoni. Hawaiia alachuana may be distinguished from H. minuscula by its slightly larger overall size, its slightly wider, differently-shaped umbilicus, and a more dilated aperture (Pilsbry, 1948).

Ecology
This snail inhabits the leaf litter of deciduous forests, preferring calcium-rich environments (Hubricht, 1985).

Taxonomy
This species has also been known as Hawaiia minuscula alachuana, Helicodiscus alachuana, and H. jacksoni.

Distribution
Hawaiia alachuana is found in scattered pockets across the eastern United States, from New York to Florida, and as far west as Oklahoma. In Virginia it is known only from the western part of the state.

Conservation
NatureServe Global Rank: G4/G5Q, Apparently Secure.

 

Meegan Winslow, Ken Hotopp 11/2012

Range Map (click to enlarge)