Kansas Land Snails

This is a list of land snails and slugs likely to be found in Kansas annotated with an image (or link to an image) and KS distribution map. 

The list is based on Arruda (2018) which included a review of three on-line museum databases (iDigBio, InvertE-base, and GBIF as well as Leonard (1960), Burch (1962), Hubricht (1985), Nekola and Coles (2010), and the NatureServe database. It included new field collections as well. Some species names in the databases had to be updated as the old names were still used - there is some potential error in the updating and taxonomy is fluid. The KS range maps are being updated, first with observations from iNaturalist (counties in blue) that I feel sure about. References used and other useful sources are found at the end of the list. 

Caveats: (1) there may be species existing in the state but have not been collected yet; (2) some may have been collected, but not yet made their way into the online databases; (3) some species listed (especially very old collections) may no longer exist in the state; (4) some identifications (others or my own) may be incorrect; (5) smaller species are likely under-represented in the data; and (6) newer literature citations are not included and may have expanded the list of species and their ranges. 

Note that the descriptive information in this Indiana web site (the links above: "About Land Snails" and "Snail Structure) are useful for Kansas as are the keys. Regarding the keys, Indiana has more species than Kansas, but the general flow of the key can work in most cases. Oxychilus and Gastrodonta are found in IN, but not KS. For all KS species found in Indiana, the species name in this list is linked to a description of the species (or its genus or family in some cases). Remember that most of the genera of snails and slugs in Indiana have more species than in Kansas.

Allogona profunda (Say, 1821) Broad-banded Forestsnail 

Identification: about 1-inch in diameter, umbilicus wide, a thickening or tooth on basal loop of peristome (reflected aperture), according to Leonard (1959) the brownish color banding may or not be present in Kansas specimens. Habitat: a woodland snail found associated with woody and leafy debris; wooded floodplains and hillsides are suitable habitat, especially with flowing water in a stream or river channel.

Anguispira alternata (Say, 1816) Flamed Tigersnail

Identification: about ¾ inch, reddish-brown stripes on a yellowish background are noticeable, the umbilicus is wide and the lip (edge of the aperture) is simple and unreflected. Small specimens have sharper edge. Habitat: forest, either floodplain or upland, associated with logs, rotting and hollow trees, and rocks and outcrops. I've found them in large numbers after a rain crawling over boulders and rock ledges. They are also found in "weedy roadsides and along railroads" (Leonard 1959) and in residential areas in and around gardens and outbuildings. They may be found in the dirt or burrowed into the rotted underside of logs.

Carychium – Thorn Snails

These two species of Thorn snails (Carychium exile, the Ice Thorn and Carychium exiguum, Obese Thorn) in Kansas are easily distinguished from other land snails by their small size (~ 2 mm), columnar/conical shell, one small tooth on the parietal wall. They belong to a different order of gastropods, the Basommatophora, than other land snails. Their eyes are at the base of the tentacles as found in the familiar aquatic snails.

Identification: small (about 1/16 inch, < 2 mm), smooth cylindrical conical shell, parietal wall with a small tooth, reflected lip. Both species are very similar, but Carychium exile, pictured above, has radial striae on it shell, while C. exiguum has a smooth shell. Habitat: within and around packed leaves and small or larger woody debris on wooded hillsides. Leonard (1959) notes this species “in marshy areas around pond and creeks”. It is very tiny and can be overlooked.

Cochlicopa – Pillar Snails

These two species of Pillar snails (Cochlicopa lubrica, the Glossy Pillar, and Cochlicopa lubricella, the Thin Pillar) in Kansas are easily distinguished from other land snails by their size (~ 5 mm), columnar/conical shell, and lack of apertural teeth.

Identification: small (~ 5 mm), elongate with smooth shiny shell, no teeth in the aperture, lip thickened but not reflected, yellowish body. Smaller specimens (4.5-6.8 mm diameter) that are more cylindrical – Thin Pillar (C. lubricella). Larger specimens, with a more “robust” shell (5-7.5 mm diameter) – Glossy Pillar (C. lubrica).  Habitat: moist locations with leaves and litter, also in meadows and roadsides.

Deroceras laeve  (Muller, 1774) Meadow Slug

Identification: the mantle is near the front of the animal and covers about 1/3 the total length of the animal; small (about 1 inch) when the body is extended; pale grayish tones (varies from more yellowish to darker grey, blueish-black). Habitat: in woodlands, meadows, or urban settings, usually under something: leaves, branches, discarded lumber, and so on.

Note 1: The Meadow Slug is one of three slugs in Kansas. The native Carolina Mantleslug (Philomycus carolinianus) has a mantle that extends about the length of the body. The Giant Garden Slug, Limax maxumus, is of the same family of Derocerus, but is an introduced species. Limax’s mantle, like that of Derocerus covers only the anterior third of the body, but Derocerus is smaller and lacks the black markings on the amber to yellow body color of Limax.

Note 2: There are likely more species of slugs in KS than represented here.

Euchemotrema – Pillsnails

Pillsnails are easily distinguished from other land snails in Kansas by their size and shape. They are “pill shaped” with a slit-like aperture and long parietal tooth. They lack a notch in their basal lip, unlike a second genus of similar-looking snails - the Slitmouth snails, Stenotrema, which have such a notch (but may be very small).

There are likely three species in Kansas. Leonard (1959) recorded only one - Euchemotrema leai aliciae, Alice’s Pillsnail. Hubricht (1985) recognized this species but also noted two counties with Euchemotrema leai leai, the Lowland Pillsnail. A third species, Euchemotrema fraternum, has been found in the state in more recent collections and both of the previously reported have been re-collected. All three species have been collected in the Missouri border counties (Oesch et al. 2013).

Euchemotrema leai aliciae likes moist woodlands and their humid conditions. Leonard (1959) collected this species in western Kansas in riparian woodlands (that might exist today). Hubricht (1985) places this species in “meadows, along roadsides, and near springs, but also found in floodplain woods.” Euchemotrema fraternum has been collected associated with grasslands (grass litter, clumps, burned areas adjacent to lakes) and woodlands (leaf litter, woody debris) as has Euchemotrema leai aliciae, but the latter more often in woodlands. 

Euconulus – Hive Snails

The hive snails are easily distinguished from other land snails in Kansas by their small size (< 4 mm) and hive shape. On the other hand, the identification of which species of hive snail you have is a different story. The two most likely species in Kansas are Euconulus trochulus (Silk hive) and Euconulus dentatus (Toothed hive), since they are found in Missouri (Oesch et al. 2013). The identification of Euconulus fulvus (Brown hive), although confirmed by one authority, should be considered tentative.

Identification: domed/beehive shape for the three species; 2-6 mm. E. trochulus has about 7 whorls and is about 2.5 mm in diameter. E. dentatus is slighty smaller but immature shells have 1-3 lamellae (thickening of the shell) that can be seen through the base of the shell. Mature specimens may lack these. E. fulvus has fewer whorls (around 5 1/2) for the same diameter of shell as E. trochulus. [modified from information from J. Nekola and R. Oesch]. Habitat: These species can be found in moist or humid wooded hillsides and ravines associated with leafy litter. May also be found on more level areas of woody habitat.

Gastrocopta - Snaggletooth Snails

These snails are taller than wide with a reflected lip; one or more apertural teeth, and columnar to pupilliform. On first glance, they may be confused with Carychium, Gastrocopta, Pupillidae, and Vertigo. Use of the Indiana key should bring you close to the species.

Gastrocopta abbreviata  (Sterki, 1909) Plains Snaggletooth 

Identification: The shell height can vary from 3.3 mm and 4 mm. The columellar lamella is blunter than the sometimes similar C. armifera. The basal lamina can be more well-developed as well. Habitat: This species can be found in a variety of habitats associated with leaf litter or rocks including riparian woodlands (xeric or mesic) and grasslands. It can co-occur with Gastrocopta armifera. 

Gastrocopta armifera  (Say, 1821) Armed Snaggletooth 

Identification: This species is the largest pupillid, > 4 mm in height. It has several apertural teeth. The columellar lamella is more triangular than G. abbreviata and the basal lamina can be less well-developed. See G. abbreviata species sheet for a comparison of these two species.  Habitat: It is found in a variety of open habitats including roadsides, along railroads, cedar glades, and open woods – xeric or mesic. It can be associated with leaf litter or rocks. I collected about a dozen on top of a large piece of shale (see image below). It can co-occur and be confused with Gastrocopta abbreviata.

Gastrocopta contracta  (Say, 1822) Bottleneck Snaggletooth 

Identification: taller than wide; pupilliform; thin but wide reflected lip; aperture tends to triangular in shape; height about 2.5 mm; angulo-parietal lamella not split, rather appearing as a single large, folded structure filling the aperture; columellar tooth (lamella) roundish, large and laminate.  Habitat: It can be found in a variety of open habitats including roadsides, along railroads, cedar glades as well mesic or xeric woods. It can co-occur with Gastrocopta armifera.

Gastrocopta corticaria  (Say, 1816) Bark Snaggletooth

Identification: taller than wide; pupilliform; thin and small reflected lip; height varies from 2.5-3 mm; aperture has few lamella, generally no more than 3 with the basal and palatal lamella absent; angulo and parietal lamella are small and may appear bilobed in lateral view, or partially fused. Habitat: Habitats are variously recorded as “bluffs with wooded hillsides along mesic valleys” and “wooded wetlands”, as well as “mature upland forests and glades”. They will be found under and in organic debris, crevices of rotting logs, and red cedar litter. Some may be found on the sides of trees on the bark.

Gastrocopta cristata  (Pilsbry and Vanatta, 1900) Crested Snaggletooth 

Identification: taller than wide; pupilliform; thin reflected lip; height can vary from 2.5-3 mm; angulo-parietal lamella are not distinctly bilobed; angular lobe is a small protuberance; palatal lamellae are not connected by thickened ridge. Habitat: This species may be found in both upland and floodplain woodlands as well as grasslands. Nekola and Coles (2010) report they are “largely limited to sandy floodplains.”

Gastrocopta holzingeri  (Sterki, 1889) Lambda Snaggletooth 

Identification: taller than wide; pupilliform, but relatively cylindrical; reflected lip; height about 2 mm; 6 teeth including a bilobed angulo-parietal tooth, basal and palatal teeth inserted away from lip. Habitat: Leonard (1959) noted this as a woodland species, either wooded floodplains or upland forests but notes it was also found in upland grasslands with permanent moisture. Hulbricht (1984) reported this species is a calciphile, liking talus slopes and semishady environs. 

Gastrocopta pellucida  (Pfeiffer, 1841) Slim Snaggletooth 

Identification: taller than wide, pupilliform; ~ 2 mm; thin lip; large fused angulo-parietal and lower palatal deeper into the aperture than the upper. Habitat: Leonard (1959) found it in upland forests as well as wooded floodplains and upland grasslands with available moisture. Specimens were found at Tuttle Creek State Park at the Randolph and Fancy Creek areas of Tuttle Creek State Park among cedar litter over soil and around and under rocks, some grassy areas.

Gastrocopta pentodon  (Say, 1822) Comb Snaggletooth 

Identification: the Comb Snaggletooth can have 5-8 teeth; the angulo-parietal looks stubby and narrow. This species is similar to others including G. holzingeri and G. tappaniana but can be distinguished from the former by the angulo-parietal tooth and from the latter by lower palatal lamella (see Nekola and Coles 2010 for all the Gastrocopta). Habitat: G. pentadon can be found in a variety of habitats, both wooded and grassland. Nekola and Coles (2010) note a preference for leaf litter.

Gastrocopta procera  (Gould, 1840) Wing Snaggletooth

Identification: 2-3 mm, light brown color; lip thin and reflected with slight crest behind the lip; 5-6 teeth, lower palatal long, angled away from upper palatal lamella, and deep into shell; angulo-parietal lobes intersect to form a X-shape bi-lobed structure. Habitat: can be found in and around the organic debris and stones/rocks of forest litter; also more open habitats such as prairie and glades.

Gastrocopta similis  (Sterki, 1909) Great Lakes Snaggletooth 

Identification: taller than wide; pupilliform; thin reflected lip; smaller of the three largest Gastrocopta, height can vary from 3.25-4 mm; columellar tooth (lamella) is large, vertical and appears layered compared to G. armifera or G. similis, but may seem to bow out in the middle; basal lamina reduced or missing; seems similar to G. ruidosensis which is not found in Kansas (Nekola and Coles 2010). Habitat: in and around glade, grass, or woodland litter including cedar woods.

Gastrocopta sterkiana Pilsbry, 1917 a Snaggletooth snail

Gastrocopta tappaniana  (C. B. Adams, 1842) White Snaggletooth 

Identification: 1.5-2.5 mm; outer lip thin and slightly reflected; 6-9 apertural teeth; angulo-parietal tooth fused; shell shape is ovate. This species may be confused with G. pentadon but its shell is larger and more conic. As well, its lower palatal lamella does not enter the aperture as deeply as that of G. pentadon. Habitat: in and around leafy or woody detritus in moister areas of bottom land forests (floodplain, wooded wetlands, or prairies).

Glyphyalinia indentata  (Say, 1823) Carved Glyph 

Glyphyalinia indentata may be a complex of species with little or no shell differences.

Identification: perforate umbilicus, very glossy surface, distinct indented radial lines are equally and widely spaced, aperture not reflected. Habitat: common in woodlands, roadsides, and meadows; in surface litter and soil.

Haplotrema concavum  (Say, 1821 Gray-foot Lancetooth 

Identification: about 12 mm and 5 whorls, yellow to greenish-white color, sutures are deep, widely umbilicate showing all whorls to the apex, the outer and basal margins of the aperture are only slightly expanded. Habitat: woodlands, among leaf litter and woody debris. A carnivorous species.

Hawaiia minuscula  (A. Binney, 1841) Minute Gem

Identification: A small snail about 2.5 mm wide with 4 whorls, a wide and shallow umbilicus ending in a thin-lipped aperture. The nuclear whorl is smooth but the rest of the surface is cross-hatched with fine, irregularly-spaced growth lines and minute spiral striae. The similarly sized Lucilla lacks the microsculpture. Habitat: woodlands, among leaf litter and woody debris; elsewhere at times. 

Helicodiscus - Coil Snails

The coil snails are easily distinguished from other land snails in Kansas by their small size (< 4 mm) and coiled cinnamon roll shape. There are two species of Helicodiscus in Kansas with distinct multiple spiral ridges: Helicodiscus notius Hubricht 1962, the Tight Coil and H. parallelus (Say, 1817), the Compound Coil.

Identification: about 3-4 mm diameter, coiled shape, wide umbilicus, 5-5 ½ whorls; flat spire (perhaps a slight elevation), the many spiral ridges are diagnostic, they begin on the embryonic whorls (the first and smallest whorls); last whorl with 2-3 small teeth usually visible at some depth inside the lip on the interior wall. H. parallelus is similar, except that the spiral threads are absent from the embryonic whorls, 4-5 ½ whorls, and whorls more “swollen” after first whorl (Ron Oesch pers. comment).  Habitat: can be found in leaf litter and soil of wooded areas

Inflectarius inflectus  (Say, 1821) Shagreen

Identification: about 12 mm, depressed shell, about 5 closely coiled whorls, surface with fine hairs, imperforate, a long curved parietal tooth, and two apertural teeth.  

Habitat: woodlands, among leaf litter and woody debris, rock walls, exposed limestone.

Lucilla - Coil Snails

The coil snails are easily distinguished from other land snails in Kansas by their small size (< 4 mm) and coiled cinnamon roll shape. Coil snails of the genus Lucilla lack spiral threads as found in the genus Helicodiscus.

Identification: about 3-4 mm diameter, coiled shape, wide umbilicus, 5-5 ½ whorls, flat spire (perhaps a slight elevation), lacks spiral ridges. Habitat: can be found in leaf litter and soil of wooded areas. 

Mediappendix - a type of Amber Snail - Family Succiniedae 

The identification of species in the Family Succineidae is based primarily on dissection. As a result, the status of this family and the true number of species found in Kansas is not accurately known. Those that might be found in Kansas based on previous work are briefly presented here.

Succineids may be found near the margins of ponds, marshes, streams, and lakes or on associated wet grounds. There may be differentiation based on habitat – adjacent to flowing or standing waters. They can be found on the undersides of vegetation. 

These two species of Mediappendix were previously in the genus Catinella.

Mesodon  - Globe Snails

There are two major groups of Globe Snails - those with a closed umbilicus (imperforate) and those with a partially open umbilicus (rimate). The latter are the only native (known-to-date) Mesodons in Kansas. There are only two: Mesodon clausus , the Yellow Globelet, and the more common Mesodon thyroidus, the White-lip Globe. iNaturalist observations of some of Mesodon and Neohelix may be incorrect if the only image is the top of the shell. 

The Yellow Globelet has a globose shell, no parietal tooth, adults usually 15-18 mm, and may be confused with smaller toothless Mesodon thyroidus. Habitat: a woodland land snail, has been found recently in woodland areas associated with rotting branches and fallen timber.

The White-lip Globe has a subglobose shell, usually with a parietal tooth,  adults usually 17-22 mm. Smaller shells without a parietal tooth may be confused with Mesodon clausus. Habitat: found in woodland habitats associated with decaying woody debris, small rock piles, walls, or ledges; also found in grasslands adjacent to woodlands and in some residential landscapes.

Mesomphix – Button Snails

Button snails are woodland snails up to about 1 inch in diameter that have a large “obliquely oval” aperture. Two species of Mesomphix might be found in Kansas - in the extreme southeast. They are Mesomphix friabilis and Mesomphix capnodes.

Identification: Mesomphix is an umbilicate snail, larger than 12 mm in diameter, up to 20-28 mm. The shell is very glossy, olive to darker mahogany in color, and thin. The lip is never reflected and when viewed to the aperture, the aperture looks like a lop-sided wide mouth grin (oblique and ovate).

M. capnodes has spiral rows of papillae more noticeable on the body whorl. M. friabilis lacks these and is smaller than M. capnodes that may be found larger than 29 mm although it may not reach that size in Kansas.  Habitat: in wooded hillsides associated with leaf litter and other organic matter. Most snails are best found after a rain, these may be especially so.

Neohelix - Whitelip Snails

There are two species in Kansas - Neohelix alleni, the Western Whitelip, and Neohelix divesta, the Ozark Whitelip. They differ from the Mesodon species by being imperforate (closed umbilicus), having a more subglobose to depressed shell, and lacking teeth.  iNaturalist observations of some Neohelix and Mesodon may be incorrect if the only image is the top of the shell. 

Identification: the Western Whitelip is more sub-globose while the Ozark Whitelip is more depressed. Habitat: associated primarily with woody debris (branches and bark) or among leaf litter and woody debris, rock walls, exposed limestone.

Nesovitrea electrina  (Gould, 1841) Amber Glass 

Identification: 4-5 mm; depressed shell; glossy with clear radial lines; about 4 whorls, rapidly enlarging; umbilicus wide, apertural lip rounded. Look superficially like Zonitoides arboreus. The radial lines might confuse with Glyphyalina, but the umbilicus differs. Habitat: woodlands, among leaf litter and woody debris, seems to prefer moister environments.

Novisuccinea ovalis  - a type of Amber Snail - Family Succiniedae

The identification of species in the Family Succineidae is based primarily on dissection. As a result, the status of this family and the true number of species found in Kansas is not accurately known. Those that might be found in Kansas based on previous work are briefly presented here.

Succineids may be found near the margins of ponds, marshes, streams, and lakes or on associated wet grounds. There may be differentiation based on habitat – adjacent to flowing or standing waters. They can be found on the undersides of vegetation. 

Oxylomum retusum - a type of Amber Snail - Family Succiniedae

The identification of species in the Family Succineidae is based primarily on dissection. As a result, the status of this family and the true number of species found in Kansas is not accurately known. Those that might be found in Kansas based on previous work are briefly presented here.

Succineids may be found near the margins of ponds, marshes, streams, and lakes or on associated wet grounds. There may be differentiation based on habitat – adjacent to flowing or standing waters. They can be found on the undersides of vegetation. 

Paravitrea  – Supercoil Snails

The supercoil snails are easily distinguished from other land snails in Kansas by their many whorls packed in a mid-sized snail.

There are two species possible, both restricted to the extreme southeast: Paravitrea significans, the Domed Supercoil and Paravitrea simpsoni, the Amber Supercoil. 

Identification: glossy shell; unique smooth rounded profile with depressed spire; small (< ¼ in); tight coils, body whorl enlarges more than earlier whorls. Paravitrea significans differs from P. simpsoni by: periphery below middle of body whorl, spire more elevated. Habitat: wooded areas, among and under leafy and woody debris.

Philomycus carolinianus  (Bosc, 1802) Carolina Mantleslug 

Identification: mantle completely covers the upper surface of the body; mantle splotched with two black longitudinal rows of black spots near the midline. Habitat: a woodland species, in protected areas (under fallen tree trunks, under bark or below leaf litter), not an urban slug, may come out on wet nights and can be found on bark.

Note 1: The Meadow Slug is one of three slugs in Kansas. The native Carolina Mantleslug (Philomycus carolinianus) has a mantle that extends about the length of the body. The Giant Garden Slug, Limax maxumus, is of the same family of Derocerus, but is an introduced species. Limax’s mantle, like that of Derocerus covers only the anterior third of the body, but Derocerus is smaller and lacks the black markings on the amber to yellow body color of Limax.

Note 2: There are likely more species of slugs in KS than represented here.

Punctum minutissimum  (I. Lea, 1841) Small Spot 

Identification: 1-1.5 mm; radial striae; about 4 whorls; widely umbilicate; thin, unreflected lip. Habitat: woodlands, among leaf litter and woody debris, especially well-decaying.

Pupoides albilabris  (C. B. Adams, 1841) White-lip Dagger

Identification: The White-lip Dagger is an elongate “pupa” shaped snail, about ¼ inch tall. The lip is thick, wide, and reflected. It is not easily confused with other pupa-shaped snails in Kansas. Habitat: Leonard (1959) remarked that it could be found in woodlands under woody and leafy debris as wells open pastures, rocky open country, and, in western Kansas, in the sagebrush flats. He offered that this species is tolerant of aridity and high temperatures to explain its distribution in the state.

Rabdotus dealbatus  (Say, 1821) Whitewashed Rabdotus 

Identification: the only snail this large with a high spire, shell smooth and white, some darker tan or brownish stripes or blotches (see image lower left). Habitat: varied from drier, open locations to woodlands and the tops of bluffs besides streams and rivers (Leonard 1959). The individual pictured above was collected in an oak-hickory and cedar woodland, but others in a meadow habitat. Both areas were limestone. Hubricht (1985) regarded this species as a calciphile that was found crawling on the ground or on low vegetation in wet weather.

Stenotrema - Slitmouth Snails

Slitmouth snails are easily distinguished from other land snails in Kansas by their size and shape. They are slightly “pill shaped” like Euchemotrema with a slit-like aperture and long parietal tooth, but they possess a notch in their basal lip, unlike Euchemotrema, which lacks such a notch.

Two species have been collected in Kansas in the past: Stenotrema barbatum and Stenotrema stentotrema. It is possible that others exist along the forested eastern border with Missouri.

Identification: For both species, the shell is “globose-depressed” with a very convex base. The shell surface is covered with hairs, imperforate, the aperture transverse with single large parietal tooth (no marginal teeth), and a small pronounced notch. S. stenotrema is slightly larger (~2 mm) with a narrower aperture, a wider and deeper notch, and longer hairs than S. barbatum.  Habitat: The two species, based on Leonard’s (1959) distribution and as reflected in Hubricht (1985), mostly separate geographically in Kansas with S. barbatum northeast and S. stenotrema southeast. Within their ranges, they appear to share similar habitat – woodlands among rocky and woody debris.

Striate snails - Striatura

These are tiny land snails, less than 2 mm in size (about 1/16 inch). The surface of their shell has small vertical riblets with spiral lines (or striae). There are two species in Kansas, the Median Striate and the Fine-ribbed Striate. They are easy to miss or confuse with Punctum minutissimum and Hawaiia minuscula, the smallest helicoid snails in Kansas.

Identification: shell umbilicate; shell diameter 1.5-less than 2 mm with fine riblets, low and closely spaced; Striatura meriodionalis 1.7-1.8 mm in diameter, riblets oblique & not beaded, spiral striae prominent and extend to apex, ~3.5 whorls; Striatura milium about 1.5 mm in diameter; riblets crenulated by spiral lines, spiral striae less prominent extend to within one whorl of the apex, ~ 3 whorls [modified from multiple sources]. Habitat: both species may be found in woodlands, leafy and small woody debris. 

Strobilops labyrinthicus  (Say, 1817) Maze Pinecone 

Identification: a uniquely appearing snail; minute snail at < 3 mm, dome-shaped, distinct radial ribs, reflected lip, two unequal parietal lamella extending into the body whorl.  Habitat: woodlands, among leaf litter and woody debris, check crevices.

Succinea  - a type of Amber Snail -  Family Succiniedae

The identification of species in the Family Succineidae is based primarily on dissection. As a result, the status of this family and the true number of species found in Kansas is not accurately known. Those that might be found in Kansas based on previous work are briefly presented here.

Succineids may be found near the margins of ponds, marshes, streams, and lakes or on associated wet grounds. There may be differentiation based on habitat – adjacent to flowing or standing waters. They can be found on the undersides of vegetation. 

Triodopsis - Threetooth Snails

Their depressed shells, open umbilicus, and three apertural teeth help identify these species of woodland snails.

Identification: The Post Oak Threetooth has a “depressed globose” shell, a narrow umbilicus, white reflected lip, and its three teeth. Compared to the Ozark Threetooth, the parietal tooth is shorter and straight, the two apertural teeth more conical than stubby, and the shell is smaller in diameter.  Habitat: Leonard (1959) reported this species as occurring in “upland habitats in sandy areas where oak forest is the dominant vegetation.”

Vallonia parvula  Sterki, 1893 Trumpet Vallonia

Identification: the most unique looking small snail in Kansas; 1.5-2.0 mm; aperture rounded and lip reflected; whorls with irregularly spaced high ribs or ridges, whitish shell. Habitat: both upland and floodplain woodlands, in and around woody debris or rocks, may be in dirt; Oesch et al. (in press) note it in glade and prairie situations. Two other Vallonia species are found in Missouri bordering counties – Vallonia perspectiva Sterki 1893 and Vallonia pulchella (Müller 1774). There may be others in Kansas.

Ventridens – Domed snails

These are a group of two mid-sized land snails with a dome shape, perforate umbilicus, and glossy shell. They are restricted to three counties in eastern or southeastern Kansas. Two species are found in Kansas - the Globose Dome and the Perforate Dome. 

Identification: Ventridens ligera has 6-7 whorls, usually wider than 11 mm in diameter, higher dome, basal lamina inside lip. V. demissus is narrower in diameter, lower dome, less than 11 mm. Habitat: woodlands, moister areas; only new specimens were of V. demissus collected in multiple years among damp woody and leafy debris along fence line at an urban residence - a state record.

Vertigo snails - Vertigo

Land snails of the genus Vertigo are tiny (about 2 mm or 1/16 inch) members of the land snail community. They may be found among moist woody debris, in woodlands or grassy areas. While small, most have an aperture with numerous denticles (teeth) of various locations and characteristics.Three species, at least, are recorded in Kansas according to Nekola and Coles (2010): Vertigo milium, Vertigo ovata, and Vertigo tridentata. Some may be confused with the smaller Gastrocopta.

Webbhelix multilineata  (Say, 1821) Striped Whitelip

Identification: This is a large snail, 20 to 25 mm diameter,depressed globose, imperforate, oval aperture oval to lunate, usually without lamellae, peristome narrowly reflected, olive-brown shell color, but with multiple reddish  brown spiral bands (sometimes absent). Habitat: This is a snail of “marshy woodlands and meadows” according to Leonard (1959). According to Oesch et al. (in press), this snail can escape floodwaters by climbing up tree trunks or on other vegetation and summarizes an earlier work reporting this species might be predacious on other snails.

Xolotrema fosteri (F. C. Baker, 1921) Bladetooth Wedge

Identification: shell imperforate, large parietal tooth, subglobose, rounded periphery, shell usually >17 mm, tooth in upper part of outer lip. Habitat: woodland species, associated with woody debris, limestone hillsides and outcrops, large boulders.

Zonitoides arboreus  (Say, 1816) Quick Gloss 

Identification: 4-6 mm diameter, glossy shell, irregular growth lines, 4-5 whorls, umbilicate, thin lip not reflected. Habitat: generalist, woodlands, some grasslands, leaf litter, woody debris (look in the crevices).

Non-native Species

References and other Sources of Information

• Arruda, J. A. (2018). In Jim Mason (Ed.), Pocket Guide to the Land Snails of Kansas. Great Plains Nature Center, Wichita, KS. pp. 69. (the link opens a pdf of the publication)

• Burch, J.B. 1962. How to Know the Eastern Land Snails. Wm. C. Brown Company Publishers, Dubuque, Iowa. 214 pp. An online pdf is available to see.

• Hotopp, K.P., T.A. Pearce, J.C. Nekola, J. Slapcinsky, D.C. Dourson, M. Winslow, G. Kimber, and B. Watson. 2013. Land Snails and Slugs of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States. Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Pittsburgh, PA. Online Resource: http://www.carnegiemnh.org/science/mollusks/index.html. (Note: a  very good source for descriptions and images of many snails.)

• Hubricht, L. 1985. The distributions of the native land mollusks of the eastern United States. Fieldiana: Zoology, New Series, No. 24: 1-191.

• Leonard, A.B. 1959. Handbook of Gastropods in Kansas. Museum of Natural History. University of Kansas. 224 pp.

• NatureServe. 2023. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org/. (Accessed at various times. A good source for distributions and conservation status.).

• Nekola, J.C. and B.F. Coles. 2010. Pupillid land snails of eastern North America. Bulletin of the American Malacological Society. 28:1-29. (Excellent source for Gastrocopa, Pupillids, and Vertigo.)

• Oesch, R.D., L.E. Watrous, and M. C. Barnhart. 2013. Land Snails and Slugs of Missouri. Missouri Department of Conservation, Jefferson City, Missouri. (The link opens a pdf of the publication. This is a good supplementary source of descriptions and images.)