Family: Gastrodontidae
Common name: Tongued Glyph
Discovery: Hubricht, 1968
Identification
Width: ~7.7 mm
Height: ~4 mm
Whorls: ~5
The fragile shell of Glyphyalinia rimula is a depressed heliciform with a glossy, coppery color and 5 loosely coiled whorls. A tongue-like callus at the columella partially covers the rimate umbilicus. Widely-spaced transverse striae are well-developed, with weakly defined spiral striae.
Ecology
This species is found in leaf litter of mixed hardwood forests on hillsides, in ravines, sometimes in caves, and even in kudzu tangles. In Tennessee, it is found in cedar woods and along river bluffs.
Taxonomy
Described by Hubricht in 1968, this species has no other known synonyms.
Distribution
Glyphyalinia rimula is currently known in the Northeastern United States from one county in southwestern West Virginia, where it may be extirpated. It is documented in two other states, Kentucky and Tennessee.
Conservation
NatureServe Rank: G3, Vulnerable.
NatureServe State Rank: West Virginia, NR, not ranked.
