Identification

Width: 3.5-4.3 mm
Height: 1.75 mm
Whorls: 3.5-4

The shell of Perpolita binneyana is heliciform with a simple peristome and no teeth. Closely spaced, transverse striae are present but weakly developed and absent from the base. The spire is slightly elevated, the aperture is well-rounded and the umbilicus shows all its volutions. No spiral striae are present. The glossy, translucent shell is nearly clear, with a slight greenish tinge.

Ecology

P. binneyana is a species of upland mixed hardwood forests of the Northeastern United States where it dwells in leaf litter. In Maine it occurs in a wide variety of habitats, including white cedar-ash wetlands (Nekola, 2008).

Taxonomy

Synonyms for P. binneyana include Nesovitrea binneyana, Hyalina binneyana, Zonites binneyana, Helix morsei, and Retinella binneyana.

Distribution

Records of P. binneyana in the northeastern United States range from Pennsylvania and delware north, and it is also known from Michigan and Wisconsin. Specimens widely reported from West Virginia are likely N. electrina (Dourson, 2015).

Conservation

NatureServe Global Rank: G5, Apparently Secure.
This species is widespread in the northern states of the Northeast region.

Identification

Width: 16.0–22.3 mm
Height: 6.0–10.6 mm
Whorls: 5.5+

The shell of Mesomphix subplanus is similar in overall plan to many other Mesomphix, but looks as if it has been squeezed in a press. The umbilicus is tiny and is only somewhat indented from the base, which is quite flat, and the apex is also flattened. The shell is thin, and the lip of the aperture is simple and thin. The glossy shell may vary in color, being olive or brown, and it is has radial striations.

Ecology

This species is found at higher altitudes, 2,000 feet or above, in moist leaf litter and around logs (Hubricht, 1985).

Taxonomy

Synonyms for M. subplanus are: Helix sub-plana, Mesomphix subplana, M. subplanus planus, Omphalina subplana, and Zonites subplanus.

Distribution

Mesomphix subplanus has a range similar to that of M. rugeli, though even more limited. It is found mostly along the North Carolina/Tennessee line. It appears in scattered western Virginia counties.

Conservation

NatureServe Global Rank: G3/G4, Vulnerable to Apparently Secure
NatureServe State Rank: Virginia, S2, Imperiled
Virginia’s wildlife action plan: Tier III

Identification

Width: 16.0–22.1 mm
Height: 9.0–12.6 mm
Whorls: 5+

Mesomphix rugeli has a relatively stout shell with a slightly elevated apex – not as depressed as in M. subplanus, and the last whorl is bigger. Otherwise its shell has a design similar to others in its family, with rounded whorls and a thin lip. As for its shell sculpture, the initial whorl is smooth, after which the sculpture becomes a series of radial ridges, and finally irregular riblets on the later whorls. There are no spiral striae. West Virginia representatives are of the subspecies M. r. oxycoccus, which has a more papillose, duller shell texture (Dourson, 2015).

Ecology

This animal is found under leaf litter on wooded hillsides or mountains (Hubricht, 1985).

Taxonomy

Synonyms for M. rugeli are Mesomphix rugeli oxycoccus, Zonites inornatus, and Z. rugeli.

Distribution

Mesomphix rugeli has a limited range, from northern Alabama, being found mostly along the North Carolina-Tennessee border, and then north into western Virginia.

Conservation

NatureServe Global Rank: G4, Apparently Secure
NatureServe State Rank: Virginia, S3, Vulnerable; West Virginia, not ranked
Virginia’s wildlife action plan: Tier IV

Identification

Width: 17.6–20.7 mm
Height: 9.7–12.2 mm
Whorls: 4.5

Mesomphix perlaevis has a shell with a low apex, a large outer whorl, and a small umbilicus. The aperture is thin with a white callus lining inside. The somewhat glossy shell has a brown to olive color that fades toward the base. Some specimens may look almost green. The shell has irregular radial ridges, which are “cut” across the top by spiral striae, a useful characteristic for distinguishing it from similar-sized relatives. It may have tiny papillae upon its final whorl, but not extensively as on M. inornatus.

Ecology

This species can usually be found under leaf litter on wooded hillsides.  In Tennessee it is found in limestone areas and oak-pine forests at high elevation (Coney et al, 1982).

Taxonomy

Synonyms for M. perlaevis are Mesomphix laevigata perlaevis and Omphalina laevigata perlaevis.

Distribution

Mesomphix perlaevis occurs from northern Alabama, north to Ohio and southwestern Pennsylvania.

Conservation

NatureServe Global Rank: G5, Secure

Identification

Width: 16.6 – 21 mm
Height: 8.4 – 11 mm
Whorls: 4+

The shell of Mesomphix inornatus is slightly glossy with a golden brownish or almost tan color and little obvious sculpture. However, magnification reveals minute papillae in neat rows and columns. The shell is somewhat flattened and has a thin lip and a very small umbilicus. The last whorl is very large, about double the size of the one before it, making the aperture relatively large. The animal is gray, darker on the back.

Ecology

This animal lives in upland forests under leaves and dead wood (e.g. Hubricht, 1985).

Taxonomy

Synonyms for M. inornatus are Helix inornata, Mesomphix inornata, Omphalina inornata, and Zonites inornatus.

Distribution

The range of M. inornatus is inland from western Tennessee north to New York and central Vermont.  It eschews the coast.

Conservation

NatureServe Global Rank: G5, Secure

Identification

Width: 22 -25 mm
Height: 12 – 15 mm
Whorls: 4+

The shell of Mesomphix cupreus is large, glossy, and robust. Its color is golden-brown to deep brown, and it typically has a very dark aperture edge. The shell microsculpture lacks papillae and instead may have a fine sandpaper texture, sometimes with spiral grooves (striae). The umbilicus is relatively large for its genus. Similar shells of large immature polygyrids are more transparent (in live animals), have fine radial ridges, and lack the dark lip edge.  Virginia specimens tend to be larger than those from farther north.

Ecology

This species is a denizen of damp forest leaf litter, sometimes near logs, in mature upland forests. Walton (in Pilsbry, 1948) reports it feeding upon other land snails.

Taxonomy

Synonyms for M. cupreus are: Helix fuliginosa, Mesomphix cupreus politus, Omphalina cuprea, O. fuliginosa, Zonites cupreus form sinistrorsus, and Zonites fuliginosus.

Distribution

The range of M. cupreus extends from western New England, New York, and Michigan, south to Tennessee and North Carolina. In the Mid-Atlantic it is not found near the coast. In Virginia it is found in the western mountains and hills.

Conservation

NatureServe Global Rank: G5, Secure