Identification

Width: 4.1-4.5 mm
Height: 1.8-1.9 mm
Whorls: 5.0-5.2

Glyphyalinia virginica has an average-sized shell for its genus, with a nearly flat spire. Its wide umbilicus is large – nearly a quarter of the shell width. The whorls of the shell increase slowly and regularly in size, their basal surface is flattened. Growth lines are prominent on the apical surface but the shell base is nearly smooth. Shell color is somewhat translucent light brown, often tinged with pink. The genital anatomy of this species is not known.

Ecology

This species is found in deep moist leaf litter on otherwise dry rocky and relatively open mountainsides. It appears to have specific habitat requirements and while abundant in the correct microhabitats it is absent from nearby areas away from outcroppings, seeps or pockets of leaf litter.

Taxonomy

This species has also been called Retinella virginica.

Distribution

Glyphyalinia virginica appears to be endemic to the Blue Ridge and neighboring mountains from west-central Virginia to the Harpers Ferry area of West Virginia. It is spottily distributed in appropriate microhabitats. Shenandoah National Park is at the heart of this animal’s range.

Conservation

NatureServe Global Rank: G3, Vulnerable.
NatureServe State Rank: Virginia, S2S3, Imperiled
Virginia’s wildlife action plan: Tier III

Identification

Width: 7.5 mm
Height: 4.0 mm
Whorls: 5.3

Glyphyalinia solida is a moderate to large glyph, with a depressed shell that has rapidly expanding whorls. The expanding edge of the inner lip forms a tongue-shaped projection that fills the umbilicus. The shell is translucent pale-brown to almost chestnut and sculptured with widely and uniformly spaced impressed lines that parallel the nearly imperceptible growth lines. This sculpture is strong apically and continues to the umbilicus. Spiral engraved lines can often be seen under high magnification.

This animal’s dorsal surface is blue-grey, fading towards the sole of the foot. Both the epiphallus and penial retractor muscle join the penis sub-apically, and the apical chamber of the penis contains papillae.

Ecology

Glyphyalinia solida is found in moist leaf litter in forested ravines and hillsides as well as in swamps. Although often found upon limestone geology, this species is tolerant of a wide range of soil pH and can occur on acidic, neutral, and basic soils (Nekola, 2010).

Taxonomy

A synonym for this species is Retinella cryptomphala solida.

Distribution

This species is widely distributed from Maryland to Florida and west to Oklahoma, with a single unverified record in Michigan. In Virginia the species is reported from scattered locations across the state.

Conservation

NatureServe Global Rank: G5, Secure.

Identification

Width: 12.7 mm
Height: 6.5 mm
Whorls: 7

Glyphyalinia sculptilis is a very large glyph. It has a depressed and tightly coiled shell with a slightly elevated spire. The inner edge of the aperture curves over and nearly fills the small umbilicus, leaving only a small perforation. The shell is sculptured with closely and regularly spaced narrow indentations that run parallel to the nearly invisible growth lines. The shell is brown to light brown apically and fades to light whitish-brown on the base.

The dorsal surface of this animal is bluish-black. For its reproductive anatomy, the penial retractor muscle and epiphallus join the penis sub-apically, and the apical chamber of the penis contains dense papillae that are not thorn shaped.

Ecology

This animal is found in deep, moist leaf litter in upland woods, often in cove forests. Individuals from ridge tops and drier forests are often smaller.

Taxonomy

This animal has also been called Helix sculptilis, Zonites sculptilis, Vitrea sculptilis, and Retinella sculptilis.

Distribution

Glyphyalinia sculptilis is widespread, occurring from eastern Kentucky and southwestern Virginia to eastern Louisiana.  In Virginia it is known from Washington County, but it may also occur in other counties in the extreme southwestern corner of the state.

Conservation

NatureServe Global Rank: G4, Apparently Secure.
NatureServe State Rank: Virginia, S1, Critically Imperiled. Not Ranked in Pennsylvania, Maryland, or West Virginia.
Virginia’s wildlife action plan: Tier IV

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.

Identification

Width: ~4.7 mm
Height: ~2.5 mm
Whorls: ~4

Glyphyalinia rhoadsi is average-sized for its genus. Its shell is depressed with a nearly flat apex and whorls that increase relatively rapidly in size. The final whorl does not increase more rapidly than previous whorls. The umbilicus is about one sixth to one seventh the shell width. The shiny and translucent shell is sculptured with closely spaced narrow indentations that run parallel to the indistinct growth lines. These grooves extend from the apical surface to the umbilicus and are regularly spaced except on the last quarter whorl where they are crowded and less regularly spaced. In addition there is sometimes microscopic sculpture of very weak incised spiral lines. The shell is uniformly translucent light-brown.

The body of this glyph is pale. In its reproductive anatomy, the apex of the penis has circular pilasters as in species of Nesovitrea.

Ecology

This animal is found in leaf litter in upland forests and is tolerant of acidic as well as neutral to basic soils (Nekola, 2010).

Taxonomy

Synonyms for this species are Retinella rhoadsi and Vitrea rhoadsi.

Distribution

Glyphyalinia rhoadsi ranges from Quebec to northern Georgia and west to Wisconsin. In Virginia the species is widespread in the Ridge and Valley with scattered populations on the Piedmont.

Conservation

NatureServe Global Rank: G5, Secure.

Identification

Width: 3.9-4.0 mm
Height: 1.7-1.8
Whorls: 4.5

Glyphyalinia raderi has a moderately small sized shell, for the genus, with a nearly flat spire and a very wide umbilicus that is nearly a third of the shell width. The whorls of the shell increase slowly and regularly until the final whorl which expands slightly more rapidly. Whorls are sculptured with somewhat irregular growth lines on the apical surface which weaken on the basal surface which is evenly rounded. The shell color is waxy light brown in somewhat fresh dead specimens but may appear different in life. The genital anatomy of this species is not known.

Ecology

This rare species is known from fewer than 20 occurrences and although recently-dead shells are reported, it has apparently never been seen alive. It is found among limestone rocks or talus, especially in leaf litter with high calcium content (Pearce, 2008), and it appears to be a calciphile. The species may burrow (Hubricht, 1985) explaining the lack of observations and difficulty finding living animals. 

Taxonomy

This species is has also been called Retinella raderi and Vitrea raderi. It is named for Mr. Rader of Cumberland, Maryland, who was interested in mollusks (in Pilsbry, 1946).

Distribution

Glyphyalinia raderi is found in southern Pennsylvania, West Virginia, eastern Kentucky, western Maryland and Virginia. In Virginia the species is found in the Ridge and Valley region from the Shenandoah Valley west. Because the species is small and appears to burrow it is extremely difficult to monitor or even to locate, making conservation assessments very difficult. The species is believed to be extirpated from one of its former sites in Maryland.

Conservation

NatureServe Global Rank: G2, Imperiled.
NatureServe State Rank: Maryland, SH, Historic; Pennslylvania, S1S2, Critically Imperiled; Virginia, S1S2, Critically Imperiled; West Virginia, S2, Imperiled.
Virginia’s wildlife action plan: Tier II