Land Snails

Photo(s): Opeas pyrgula shell © Larry Watrous ©; yellow, immature animal on penny by Bill Frank.

Click photo(s) to enlarge.

Opeas pyrgula Schmacker & Boettger, 1891 (non-native)

Family: Subulinidae
Common name: Sharp Awlsnail

Identification
Width: 2.2 mm
Height: 8 mm
Whorls: 7

Opeas pyrgula has a small, elongate shell. The whorls have deep sutures and light radial striations. The outside edge of the aperture curves forward near its insertion, though not as dramatically as in O. pumilum. The animal is a deep yellow color.

Ecology
In North America O. pyrgula is known from developed habitats, such as alleys (Vanatta in Pilsbry, 1946) and parks. It can be locally abundant.

Distribution
This animal is from Asia, introduced along the Gulf and Atlantic Coasts from Texas to Pennsylvania (NatureServe, 2013). In Virginia it has been collected in the Norfolk area.

Conservation
NatureServe Global Rank: G5
NatureServe State Rank: SNA

 

Ken Hotopp 3/2013

Range Map (click to enlarge)