A Guide for Terrestrial Gastropod Identification - University of ...

species-specific. The family is currently distributed in East and Southeast Asia, the Philippines,
the eastern half of North America, and Central America.
The snails are found in moderately moist forests in leaf litter and under dead wood and
bark.
TAXON AUTHOR
G-
RANK DISTRIBUTION
AL, AR, DE, FL, GA, HI, IA, IL, IN, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MO,
MS, NC, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, WI, WV; Canada:
Strobilops aeneus Pilsbry, 1926 G5 NS
IL, IN, KY, MA, ME, MI, MN, MO, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, TN, WI;
Strobilops affinis Pilsbry, 1893 G4G5 Canada: MB, ON, QC
Strobilops hubbardi A.D. Brown, 1861 G3G4 AL, FL, GA, TX
AL, AR, CT, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN,
MO, MS, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA,
Strobilops labyrinthicus (Say, 1817) G5 VT, WI, WV; Canada: NB, NS, ON, QC
AL, AR, DE, FL, GA, KS, LA, MD, MS, NC, NJ, OK, PA, SC, TN,
Strobilops texasianus Pilsbry and Ferriss, 1906 G5 TX, VA
Succineidae
John B. Burch, University of Michigan
The Succineidae are a land snail family nearly worldwide in distribution, whose shells are
characteristically thin and amber-colored, the latter aspect the source of their common name,
“amber shells.” The succineids are distinct enough from other stylommatophoran snails to be
placed in their own separate suborder, Heterurethra Pilsbry 1900. Pertinent among their unusual
characteristics are their heterurethrus kidney and ureter, and their elasmognathous jaw. Another
unusual aspect of the Succineidae is the range of their chromosome numbers---the widest range
known for any land snail family. Further, the lowest chromosome number known for the
Mollusca is found in the Succineidae.
Four genera of Succineidae are recognized in North America (north of Mexico),
Succinea, Oxyloma, Novosuccinea and Catinella. With some exceptions, the three genera can be
recognized in many regions by characteristics of their shells. Succinea and Oxyloma have shells
with large body whorls and short spires, whereas Catinella has a proportionately longer spire,
approaching that of the aperture in length. Succinea generally has a more oval shell, while the
shell of Oxyloma is more elongate and narrow. However, the most important characters for
assigning North American species to genera are aspects of genital anatomy; these are more
important than shell characters.
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