Vallonia pulchella (Müller 1774) Lovely Vallonia

Valloniidae, Eupulmonata, Gastropoda, Mollusca, Animalia

Range: Introduced from Eastern United States, may be encountered in drier and more disturbed areas, including lawns and agricultural situations. Holarctic. Europe, North Africa, the Canaries and Cape Verde Islands, east to through Asia (Gerber 1996), to Siberia (Dall 1905); eastern North America from Manitoba to Newfoundland and south into the eastern United States (Pilsbry 1948). Introduced to many places worldwide (Gerber 1996) and to the western U.S. and Canada: California, Oregon (Hanna 1966), Colorado, Utah, Texas (Pilsbry 1948), British Columbia and Washington.

Identification:

Description: 3.5 whorls; umbilicus about 27% of shell diameter; shell diameter 2 times shell height; shell translucent tan to white; with surface sculpture irregular very weak growth lines.

Natural History: Often abundant in damp conditions under logs, debris, rocks, decaying vegetation and in leaf litter or grass, in disturbed areas and in vacant lots of urban areas and in agricultural areas.

Conservation Status:

Literature Cited:

Gerber, J. 1996. Revision der Gattung Vallonia Risso 1826 (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Valloniidae). Schriften zur Malakozoologie 8: 1-227.

Sononyms:

Etymology: Vallonia – is the goddess of valleys according to Risso (1826, Hist. nat. Europe mérid., 5, 439 pp, 12 pls. [p. 101]), pulchella – diminutive of beautiful