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Family: Punctidae
Common name: Lamellate Spot
Discovery: Morrison, 1935
Non-native
Identification
Width: ≈1.2 mm
Height: ≈0.6 mm
Whorls: 4+
The tiny shell of Punctum smithi is similar to its congener species – a depressed heliciform shape with a thin lip and an open umbilicus. However, its whorls are slightly flattened, so they are oval in cross-section (Pilsbry, 1948). The shell is sculpted with ridges, and these are crossed by spiral lines that vary in depth, giving the texture a “beaded” appearance. The aperture contains a recessed basal tooth, as suggested by its name.
Ecology
This species is a leaf litter denizen, usually found with P. minutissimum (Hubricht, 1985).
Taxonomy
This species has no known synonyms.
Distribution
Punctum smithi occurs in scattered colonies in the Southeast from Maryland to northern Georgia. It is widely reported in Virginia.
Conservation
NatureServe Global Rank: G4
NaatureServe State Rank: S3
