TAMPA, Fla. - A horntail snail, an invasive pest common in India, has been found in Miami-Dade County, spurring agriculture officials to start a program to prevent the possible spread of the species, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services said Thursday. Stately Elimia Two new species of hydrobiid snails from Florida and Georgia, and a discussion of the biogeography of south Georgia streams. 1980. shell with 3.9-4.2 whorls (Fig. The LIOPLACINAE is endemic and include Campeloma, Lioplax, and Tulotoma. In others they are deposited in the water in gelatinous clusters. Aperture strongly oblique. Seminole Siltsnail An investigation by FDACS Division of Plant Industry found multiple positive sites with the snail in Miami-Dade County. The horntail . The family attains its greatest diversity in Southeast Asia. Univ. This family includes four North American genera, Amnicola, Dasyscia, Colligyrus and Lyogyrus, and the European genus Marstoniopsis and some Asian genera. Pilsbry, H. A. Base of shell regularly expanding, not funnel-shaped. It is globose in shape, body whorls are wide, spire is depressed, and the aperature is narrowly oval (Burch 1982). Click on any of the seashell identification photos for information about each shell, where they were found, who found these shells and so much more. Length of shell 3.0-4.0 mm (Fig. Other families occur elsewhere in North America and in other continents. 81-83). 198, 205). Definitive identifications may require anatomical dissections and reference to other literature. Shell small, about 3.0-3.5 mm long; adult with 4.4-4.8 whorl; lower corner of aperture tending to be angulate with fluted channel (Fig. Plane of aperture nearly vertical when viewed from the side. The species was eradicated again in 2021 after being detected in 2011 in Miami-Dade County, according to FDACS. A preliminary revision of Florida Lioplax (Gastropoda: Viviparidae), with a description of Lioplax talquinensis n.sp. 1, 2). Our knowledge of the fauna has greatly increased during recent years, and a summary of this information was desirable to facilitate other kinds of study. . They are variable in their shell characteristics, and some samples may be difficult to identify. Vail, V. A. Shell usually planispiral, but two species may have a flat-topped, elevated spire. (Fig. The snails remain a threat in Hawaii and the Caribbean after their eradication in Florida in 2021. Creek Siltsnail About fifteen species have been described from North America. Shell generally thin but strong; whorls of spire strongly convex with deep suture (Figs. Rock Fossaria Florida's . Shell cylindric-conical with 4.5-5.0 whorls. Apex very obtuse, almost in the middle of the shell. Melanoides tuberculata (Muller) in Florida. Officials in Florida are again battling a highly invasive, extraordinarily destructive giant snail species that also happens to be capable of spreading parasitic worms that invade human brains . Pygmy Siltsnail) Floridobia parva (Thompson, 1968). Blackwater Ancylid 76). Escambia Elimia The planorbid snail Micromenetus dilatatus avus in the West Indies and Central America. Apical whorls bluntly rounded and not conspicuously elevated. This manual recognizes 113 species and subspecies that occurring in Florida and the list will increase with time. Mantle richly marked with reddish-brown blotches and spots. Shell light brown and frequently mottled with rust-colored spots that may form a spiral row below the suture. Shell usually opaque in adults, with a dark red callus inside the lip (Fig. Floridobia leptospira Shell usually corpulent, brown or green, generally opaque, but occasionally translucent in juveniles. Shell conical or cylindric-conical. 159-179). (Thompson, 1968). Sculpture above periphery of whorls consisting of sharp spiral chords and distinct vertical ribs; shell attenuate. Penis with 3 papillae along right margin (Fig. Outer lip of aperture nearly straight in lateral profile (Figs. 171-173). Brownish-yellow in color (Fig. Shell conical to ovate-conical. Banded Mysterysnail Mantle diffusely pigmented or unpigmented. (Weatherby, 1879). 174-176). 16, 25, 28). Axial striations distinct (Fig. Aperture broadly attached to preceding whorl across parietal wall. Walkerana, 13: 1-108. Penny Sprite) Micromenetus floridensis (Baker, 1945). The focus on most investigations was on rivers north of Florida, and little attention was given to the Florida fauna. Acad. The Florida Department . Operculum with concentric growth rings around nucleus (Figs. The bodies of large snails, such as viviparids and pilids, should be pulled from the shell. Hatia pomilia hendersoni Whorls shouldered above near suture (Fig. Newborn shells brown. An invasive snail species known as the giant African land snail has officially been eradicated in the state of Florida after years of attempts and $24 million worth . (Thompson, 1968). This pest remains a threat in Florida, Hawaii and the Caribbean. Pseudotryonia brevissimus It occurs in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan and Brazil (Figure 1) (Raut and Ghose 1984; Biswas et al. Identification Damage from snail and slug pests appears as oblong, irregular holes at both the margin and the center of leaves and flowers. Thick-lipped Rams-horn 36). Over 500 species of Elimia have been described, most on the basis of shell characters. Newborn young about 3 mm in diameter. 110). Floridobia ponderosa Low-dome Physa (Thompson, 1968). Opercula of minute snails can be studied most easily by removing them from the animal and viewing them with transmitted light. Inferior crest absent. Spurwinkia: Morphology, systematics, and ecology of a new genus of North American marshland Hydrobiidae (Mollusca: Gastropoda). Shell medium-sized, 2.8 3.5 mm long; spire 0.9 1.1 times length of aperture; shell with 4.2-4.7 whorls (Fig. Color often glossy reddish brown. Hebetancylus excentricus Some species that are endemic to Florida springs live in environments with nearly constant temperatures and apparently reproduce continuously throughout the year. Littoridinops monroensis Goblin Elimia) Elimia vanhyningiana (Goodrich, 1921). Mantle spotted with black, shaded or unmarked; terminal lobe of penis with complex crests that cause it to look like an animals head; flagellum slender, with scattered and discontinuous glands along edge (Figs. 91). Numerous species of exotic snails are serious pests of plants and threats to public health. Umbilicus narrow, without a strong circum-umbilical ridge, outer lip without a callus on inner surface. This subfamily includes about fifteen North American and European genera (Thompson 1979). Whorls globose, with a deeply impressed suture. 66). The latter are placed in a small container filled with pond water. Nautilus, 83: 72. Body whorl compressed (Fig. 5: 1-140. Aperture usually open; occasionally with a horizontal, shelf-like septum closing posterior part (Fig. Operculum loosely coiled, with 3.75 large whorls, the outer one expanding more rapidly than the others (Figs. Quarterly Journal of the Florida Acaemy of Sciences, 32: 241-65. Sculptured with fine incremental striations and a few fine spiral striations (difficult to distinguish except with transmitted light). Like. Is non-native to the area, in our case northwest Florida Ghost Rams-horn Identification should conform with all data in the key and with geographic distributions. Shell shaggy with numerous spiral fimbriations that are broken into synchronized tufts. Formalin will corrode the shell and thereby eliminate color, delicate sculpture, and the periostracum the thin skin coating present on most shells. The criterion of inbreeding for defining species cannot be applied, and other objective criteria are not yet been established. Suture relatively deep, Whorls of spire rounded. The fixative may damage the shell, but that is unimportant for anatomical purposes. They complete their life cycles in one year. Bulletin of the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA-600/3-82-026: i-vi, 1-294. 128). Nucleus of operculum spiral and then surrounded by concentric growth rings (Fig. The number of whorls persent on the shell can help you easily identify the snail species. Shell slender, attenuate. The species of snail was present in Florida in the 1960s and 1970s before being eradicated in 1975, the FDACS said. Another variety, with cream-colored flesh and mottled brown shells, was detected in 2022. Credit: Craig Pittman. Giant Snails Invading Florida, "Major Threat" to Crops. Size smaller than last species, seldom exceeding 10 mm in width (Figs.194-196). 94). Euglandina rosea, the rosy wolfsnail or cannibal snail, is a species of medium-sized to large predatory air-breathing land snail, a carnivorous terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Spiraxidae.. Freshwater snails (Mollusca: Gastropoda) of North America. Goldenhorn Marisa 202, 208). Thompson, F.G. 1979. They were detected in 2011 in Miami-Dade County and eradicated again in 2021. Penis of males with papillae along sides (Figs. It matters not that the specimens are stored in 70 percent alcohol after having been fixed in formalin. Shell medium-sized or large; 5.4-7.5 mm long; thick and opaque; ovate or globose; apical whorls depressed; sides of spire rounded; body whorl conspicuously enlarged, ample, rapidly descending to aperture along last half whorl. 75, 76). 3). Generally with distinct axial and spiral striations. Aperture ovate; baso-columellar angle not extended; basal lip not indented. Veliger, 45:269-271. Penis with 17-50 papillae along right margin arranged in 3-5 rows (Fig. Malacological Review, 24: 55-72. The latter genus includes a single species, Cincinnatia integra (Say, 1817). (Mihalcik & Thompson, 2002). Arboreal forms, such as Liguus of Florida and Cuba, tend to be brightly coloured; terrestrial forms usually are drab. Aperture of shell closed by an operculum (snail must be collected live because the operculum is lost soon after death). 4, 5). Shell conical, spire moderatly high. 5). Thompson, F. G. 1983. Shell medium-sized, 3.0-3.8 mm long; thinner, translucent or transparent in life; tear-shaped; spire raised and nearly straight-sided, pointed; body whorl less conspicuously enlarged, not descending to aperture along last half whorl. Malacological Review, 19: 85-86. Peristome narrow to broadly ovate. Cymbal Ancylid Ampullariids have been referred to as PILIDAE in earlier editions of this manual. (Thompson, 1968). Height of shell about 23-26 mm (Figs. 121). Land Snail (Bulimulus sporadicus)A large group of Bulimulus sporadicus found in the Florida panhandle. GAINESVILLE, Fla., Feb. 26 (UPI) -- University of Florida researchers have confirmed the presence of a deadly parasite in three non-native species of snails that have colonized South Florida. It became increasingly important to provide an identification manual of the freshwater snails of Florida for many reasons. Base of last whorl with prominent spiral ridges. The horntail snail belongs to the genus Macrochlamys (family Ariophantidae), which has over a hundred described species distributed from South to Southeast Asia and southern China (Pholyotha et al. Freemouth Hydrobe It can grow to a length of 16 inches (400 millimeters) and is easily identifiable by the left-handed opening of the shell - meaning when you look at the shell, the opening is on the left. Vas deferens independent of blind caecum and its duct. Terminal lobe of penis slender. 89). Shell ovate in shape, about 1.2-1.5 times as high as wide. Spire short and compact, about 0.5-0.7 times height of aperture in mature specimens, proportionally longer in juveniles (Fig. Identification KeysThese files are all keys for the identification of various kinds of organisms. Ponderous Siltsnail Penis with a very long slender flagellum that extends beyond terminal lobe. Aperture oval, about 0.75 times as wide as high. Penis with 4-6 papillae along right margin (Fig. Burch, J.B. 1989. Bright pink egg masses are laid on . Inferior crest usually present. Radula with tricuspid lateral teeth (Fig. Floridobia helicogyra All snails in the subfamily Achatininae, including the giant African snail (GAS) (Lissachatina fulica), are regulated plant pests. Many have been synonymized, some undeservingly so. (Thompson, 1968). MIAMI-DADE, Fla. As if 2020 did not have enough surprises and curveballs, an invasive snail located in the U.S. for the first time was discovered in-- you guessed it, Florida. Florida announced on Wednesday it has eradicated the African giant land snail - an invasive species that can destroy homes and infect people with meningitis - for the second time. M-879 CONE SNAIL, Conus floridanus A small and less poisonous species, no one has ever died or been stung by one of these slow-movers, but like all cones, they have a venomous proboscis. It could take years to fully rid the state of the species, officials say. 118). The author has attempted to simplify the key to include the minimum anatomical data needed for accurate identification. 62). (Fig. 53). An invasive, giant snail species, that can also lead to outbreaks of meningitis, has been found in New Port Richey. Shell large, 3.7-4.5 mm long; adults with 4.6-5.3 whorls; lower corner of aperture slightly extended forward as a weak, tongue-like projection (Fig. It is most common in Southwest Florida, and northwest Florida. (Fig. Nuclear whorl 0.29-0.33 mm in diameter. (The penis is normally recurved into the mantle cavity, except during mating. According to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), the giant African snail, commonly referred to as GALS by invasive-species aficionados, is native to East Africa . Body whorl strongly keeled as though pinched at the periphery (Figs. A Guide to Florida Bird Species. Aphaostracon rhadinus As of last . Never preserve shell specimens in formalin. Shell elongate-conical; 10-40 mm long in adult specimens; apex of spire usually eroded; shell with 8-12 whorls although eroded specimens may have fewer; shell usually strongly sculptured with spiral and/or vertical ribs and threads (except in Elimia dickinsoni); central tooth of radula without basal or lateral cusps (Fig. Slender Walker Choctaw Lioplax Vertical ribs strongly developed, crossed by nearly equal sized spiral threads that form low spines where they cross the ribs, adults about 20-25 mm long (Fig. Three occur in Florida. Vertical ribs smooth along the periphery, strongly developed (Fig. Adults with about 5 whorls, and 10-13 mm wide (Figs.177-179). (Lamark, 1822). (Thompson, 1968). Radula with bicuspid lateral teeth (Fig. Aphaostracon theiocrenetus Some were range extensions for species known to occur in adjacent areas. Planorbis alabamensis and dilatatus in the Floridian Pliocene. Accessory crest absent. This is not the first time Florida has dealt with an invasion of giant snails. Embryonic shell smooth, without spiral chords (Fig. Smooth-ribbed Hydrobe 164, 167). The shells should be rinsed frequently in tap water during the cleaning process to prevent etching by the acid. Marginal teeth of radula spatulate and bearing 8-10 weakly differentiated cusps. 19-21). Umbilicus of shell closed. 70, 71). Two genera of North American freshwater snails: Marstonia Baker, 1926 resureected to generic status, and Floridobia, new genus (Prosobranchia, Hydrobiidae, Nymphophilinae). Average length about 5.5 mm (Figs. Aphaostracon chalarogyrus Amber to milky white in color (Figs. Penis with 2 or 3 papillae on left margin (Fig. Purple-throated Campeloma Specimens then are placed in a fixative such as 10 percent formalin or Bouins Solution. 36); males with a copulatory appendage, a penis (Fig. Baker, F.C. Shell subcircular, smooth, often encrusted with dark material. Whorls 4.6-5.3. Mantle mottled with black spots and blotches. Florida Press, Gainesville: i-xv, 1-68; pls. (Morelet, 1851). 7-9). The shell are secondarily useful for identification, but only when supplemented with anatomical information. 98). Suture relatively shallow. (Thompson, 1968). The following key is modified from Basch (1963). Apex behind center of shell. Shell squat, compact, cylindric-conical in shape, thick and opaque. Vertical sculpture reduced to irregularly spaced and uneven growth striations or low undulating ribs. Vertical ribs reduced in size, but with bold spines at the periphery; spiral threads above periphery relatively weak; adults up to 35 mm long (Fig. Aperture never with a septum. Periphery variable. Identifications are difficult in many instances without properly preserved specimens. Pomacea canaliculata Shell transparent or opaque. The last time anyone had seen a land snail in the Sunshine State was at the tail-end of a year-long, $23-million battle to eradicate the invasive species from South Florida in 2012. 172). The snail can wreak havoc on agriculture and carry a parasite that causes meningitis in humans.. Transparent white (Fig. In previous editions of the manual species of Floridobia were placed in the genus Cincinnatia. After the shells are thoroughly rinsed, they can be air-dried in cardboard trays. Live field samples should be divided into two groups, one to be preserved for shells, the other to be preserved for anatomical specimens. Spire usually about equal to or greater than height of aperture (Figs. Aperture broadly ovate. Suture not as deeply impressed as in 77b. Spiral angulation on whorls sharp and prominent in juveniles, usually becoming convex-rounded or smooth on last whorl in adults. 83). Genera that serve as intermediate hosts for schistosomatid trematodes have been studied extensively. 130). (Pilsbry, 1889). Shell sculptured with prominent nodes overlapping suture and forming crenulations. Quilted Melania Penis with 3-7 papillae along right margin and a projection with 1-4 papillae near end on left side (Figs. 159-161). Littoridinops is found most frequently in brackish water, although the three species found in Florida also occur in frehswater. Accessory crest present. Parietal margin of operculum slightly convex in outline (Fig. This monumental work changed all previous concepts concerning subfamilies, genera and species in the family. 1978. Aperture elliptical in shape; spire slenderer and slightly convex in outline; suture moderately impressed suture; parapical crest reduced in size. Includes the limpkin, a Sunshine State specialty. Lip of adult shell usually with a thick crest externally and an internal callus. Color uniform olive-green, never banded (Fig. In some genera, eggs are deposited above the water in dry clusters on stems, trees, walls, etc. (Thompson, 1968). Ancylid gastropods are small, fragile limpets found in most freshwater habitats. Two species occur in Florida. Parapical crest of verge greatly enlarged. Floridobia is known from peninsular Florida north along the Atlantic seaboard to Maine. After a few years in storage glandular tissues in the female reproductive system deteriorate, and the process gradually spreads to destroy all but the terminal genital structures. Recent studies treat amnicolids as a separate families. Similarities in appearance among the exotic species can make identification very difficult. Campeloma parthenum (Gastropoda: Viviparidae), a new species from north Florida. One species, C. chinensis malleatus (Reeve, 1863) (Fig. Apex smooth, with no trace of radial striations (Fig. Taylor (2003) monographed the family Physidae. Unlike other brown-tinted giant snails, this. Littoridinops palustris Shell elongate with pointed conical spire. Interior of adult aperture with brownish tinge. Peristome incomplete around aperture. A taxonomic revision of the feshwater snails referred to as Elimia curvicostata, and related secies. Body whorl inflated. (Thompson, 1968). Introduction to the Physidae (Gastropoda, Hydophila): biogeograhy, classification, morphology. Whorls uniformly rounded, not flattened above (Fig.144). 34, 35) (Pomatiopsis, Fig. Shell with 3-4 whorls. Average length about 5 mm (Figs. Penis simple, elongate-conical, without papillae (Fig. Aperture loosely attached to or slightly free from preceding whorl. Lobe and flagellum with various patterns of dermal glands (Fig. Gray to brownish-yellow in color. However, formalin is an excellent fixative for short-term preservation. Aperture elliptical or trapezoidal in shape. 151, 152). It is represented in North America by Viviparus. Teardrop Snail Choctawhatchee Pebblesnail) Somatogyrus sp. Elimia doolyensis (Say, 1829). Channeled Applesnail Shell relatively thin. Identification. 6). The genus is difficult to diagnose by shell characters because the three species are very dissimilar. Flatwood siltsnail This family contains twelve genera in North America. Females with an egg-laying groove or sinus on right side of foot; eggs deposited on substrate. (Thompson, 1968). On June 24th the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) created a quarantine surrounding the town of New Port Richey. Average length about 4 mm (Figs. Florida authorities believe that the snail, native to eastern Africa, was reintroduced to the state when someone brought it home as a pet. Base of shell when viewed from below showing about half of preceding whorl due to straight basal lip (Fig. Shell elongate conical, spire high. Graphite Elimia (Lea, 1862). Fortunately in Florida, the species are relatively easy to distinguish. 141). Apex proportionally longer, about 0.3-0.5 times length of shell. Physid species have similar and superficially featureless, variable shells, and the shell is imprecise for identifying most genera and many species. Shell more slender and attenuate; spire more elongate in adults, about 0.7- 1.0 times height of aperture. Umbilicus of shell perforated or broadly open. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - An invasive giant African snail that has already had to be eradicated twice in the last 50 years in Florida is back and one county is on high alert. Shell small, 2.0-2.8 mm long. Maiden Campeloma Others were new taxa not found in earlier surveys. The planorbid fauna of the southeastern states is particularly poorly known. Ovate Campeloma Shape highly variable, usually disc-shaped but some specimens with flat-topped raised spire. Sexes not conspicuously dimorphic in size. Shell elongate-conical, with about 5-7 whorls. Penis with a large, blade-like flagellum with continuous heavy dermal glands along each side (Figs. Dense Hydrobe (Thompson, 1968). Mantle diffusely pigmented with melanophores (Fig. Sculpture consisting of axial striations only (Fig.147). Curator of Malacology The radula can be studied by dissecting out the buccal mass and macerating it in clorox or sodium hydroxide. 1979b. Occasional Papers on Mollusks, 2: 261-87. Aperture broadly ovate in shape; parietal wall weakly in contact or solute from body whorl; whorls more prominently arched and with a deeper impressed suture. 17, 29-32), shell usually banded in Florida forms. Shellolive-colored; spire straight-sided. Shell with 4.4-5.0 whorls; about 3.7-5.2 mm long. It is essential that clean specimens be examined under proper lighting to observe diagnostic sculpture characteristics. Snails in wild populations range in shell color from yellow to brownish-black, and may contain stripes or dimpling. Walker, B. Peristome incomplete around aperture. Whorls of spire weakly scalariform, causing the suture to be deeply incised. 88). This genus of minute freshwater snails is endemic to the Florida peninsula. Peninsula Ancylid A press release sent from FDACS said that a gastropod enthusiast in Coconut Grove discovered the snail and sent it to the University of Florida for identification. This is particularly so in the Pulmonata. 1956. The spire differs between bumpy and smooth but it is always elongated. Shell olive-green with vertical reddish flames and spots. (Clench, 1925). (Thompson, 1969). Walkerana, 1: 81-365. 110, 111, 68). Whorls rounded, not carinate above; occasionally angular below. Their siphonal canal is merged with their aperture and called a "siphonal notch". Most freshwater hydrobiids in the eastern United States are annual species. Ph.D. thesis, University of Michigan, i-xii, 1-324. Penis filament black. Shell conical or cylindrical-conical in shape; spire elevated; body whorl not disproportionately voluminous; umbilicus closed or open. Shell glossy. 87). (Thompson, 1968). 1962. This causes problems in species identification and yield an undermeasure of the actual number of species that exist in nature. (Linnaeus, 1758). Penis with 3 I 0 small papillae around base and 7-15 papillae along right margin in a single row (Fig. Operculum paucispiral, with about three rapidly expanding whorls (Fig. 64). Helisoma anceps anceps Height of shell about 14-16 mm; width, 10-12 mm (Figs. Penis as illustrated (Fig. Columellart margin of aperture not flat-faced; apex of shell usually entire; penis with large terminal lobe on left side and small appendage-like flagellum on right margin (Fig. The molluscan family Planorbidae. The giant African land snail ( Lissachatina fulica (Bowditch)) (GALS) is one of the most invasive pests on the planet, causing agricultural and environmental damage wherever it is found. Henscomb Hydrobe Littoridinops tenuipes Penis with a small blade-like flagellum along right margin and a heavy mid-ventral ridge that bears 8-11 narrow transverse dermal glands; other glands present on terminal lobe and flagellum (Figs. Amnicola dalli. Florida Museum of Natural History Formalin does not even serve as a good fixative or preservative for long-term anatomical studies. The family contains many genera and numerous species in South America, Central America, Mexico, Africa, and Southeast Asia. Rails, gallinules, coots and cranes. Shell elliptical in shape. Shell discoidal, grayish-white in color; transparent when fresh. Shell sculptured with fine spiral threads. 96). J. Clench and Ruth P. Turner (1956) published a survey of the fauna from the Suwannee River west to the Escambia River. (Sowerby, 1878). Amnicola is a widespread genus in temperate North America. Shell relatively thick (Figs. 34, 35). Fenney Spring Hydrobe 109a, 109b). The living snail is bright orange. Length of shell 2.1-2.8 mm (Fig. Apex subacute, distinctly eccentric to the right of the midline. Shell thick and solid; whorls weakly convex or flattened (Figs. Nuclear whorl slightly protruding, 0.29-0.41 mm in diameter transverse to initial suture. The reader may be troubled by the imprecise shell characteristics that are used in the key. Fighting a new infestation of an invasive, crop-damaging snail, Florida agriculture officials on Thursday said they have collected 1,000 of the creatures in just over a week in Pasco County, where they were recently discovered following two years in abeyance.