Land Snails

Photo(s): Views of a Paravitrea pontis shell from Pilsbry (1946), with permission of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia at Drexel University.
Shells © Ken Hotopp. Black-background paratype specimen images © Francisco Borrero/ANSP at Drexel University.


Click photo(s) to enlarge.

Paravitrea pontis (H. B. Baker, 1931)

Family: Pristilomatidae
Common name: Natural Bridge Supercoil

Identification
Width: 5-6 mm
Height: 2.5-3.5 mm
Whorls: 6-7+

The shell of Paravitrea pontis has a low spire and is marked with irregularly-spaced radial striae on the later whorls. In very immature shells, radially-oriented lamellae are present in the interior of the last whorl. In some cases the final whorl may be abruptly expanded before the aperture. Older shells may have a deflected aperture, leading to confusion when identifying the species.

Ecology
This animal prefers calcium-rich environments, where it may be found under leaf litter on wooded slopes (Hubricht, 1985). In the Covington region it is found in patches of richer forest that are rocky and mesic, sometimes hillside seeps or limestone rock walls on lower slopes.

Taxonomy
Prior to its description this snail was assigned to Paravitrea (s. s.) capsella.

Distribution
Paravitrea pontis is known only from the mountains of Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia, and Kentucky. 

NatureServe Global Rank: G3
NatureServe State Rank: S2
Virginia’s wildlife action plan: Tier III

 

Meegan Winslow, Ken Hotopp 2/2014

Range Map (click to enlarge)