Helicidae

Blacket, Mark J., Shea, Michael, Semeraro, Linda & Malipatil, Mallik B., 2016, Introduced Helicidae Garden Snails in Australia: Morphological and Molecular Diagnostics, Species Distributions and Systematics, Records of the Australian Museum 68 (3), pp. 99-116 : 103

Key to Helicidae species in Australia

1 Shell globose, with whorls increasing rapidly in width, 3–5 whorls, body-whorl greatly flared, aperture large and rounded, umbilicus closed, shell colour brown or green either with brown spiral bands or without a pattern ( Figs 5–7 , A and B) .............................................................. 2

—— Shell subglobose, with whorls increasing gradually in width, 5 whorls, body-whorl moderately flared, aperture small to medium, umbilicus narrow or closed, shell colour pale with brown spiral bands ( Figs 5–7 , C and D) .................................................................................... 3

2 Shell large size (up to 4 cm in diameter, axial view), light brown colour with darker spiral bands and yellow flecks, raised spire, 4–5 whorls, aperture large relative to body. In adults spire more developed and lip of shell thickened white and strongly reflected out. During aestivation possesses either thin and clear or thickened and greyish green epiphragm that is not convex positioned inside aperture ( Figs 2 , 5–7 , A) ...................................................... Cornu aspersum

—— Shell medium size (up to 3 cm in diameter, axial view), olivegreen (juveniles) to olive-brown (adults) colour with no banding pattern, low spire, 3–4 whorls, aperture extremely large relative to body. In adults lip of shell only thickened and white internally and not reflected out. During aestivation possesses distinctive convex white thick epiphragm ( Fig. 2F ) extending from edge of aperture ( Figs 2 , 5–7 , B) ................................................................................ Cantareus apertus

3 Shell relatively depressed, medium size (up to 3 cm in diameter, axial view), light brown to yellow usually with continuous thick dark brown and white spiral bands and yellow flecks, rounded whorls, usually closed umbilicus, aperture small compressed shape. In adults lip of shell thickened white and strongly reflected out ( Figs 5–7 , C) ............................................................... (locally extinct) Eobania vermiculata

—— Shell relatively tall, small size (up to 2 cm in diameter, axial view), white usually with broken thin dark brown spiral bands and chevrons, whorls angulate in juveniles rounded in adults, narrow umbilicus, aperture medium size rounded. In adults lip of shell internally thickened and pink not thickened externally or reflected out ( Figs 5–7 , D) ................................................................................ Theba pisana

Figures

Figure 2. Images of live Brown (C. aspersum) and Green (C. apertus) Garden Snails. (A) Brown adult, Knoxfield Vic.; (B) Green adult, Cobram Vic.; (C) Brown adult, Knoxfield Vic. (left) and Green adult, Cobram Vic. (right); (D) Brown juvenile, Knoxfield (left ×1) and Cobram (right ×2) [note: these three specimen identifications (VAITC 3071–3073) were confirmed through DNA barcoding in the present study]; (E) Green Juvenile, Cobram Vic.; (F) Green epiphragm, Cobram Vic. Image credits: A–E, Andrew Henderson (DEDJTR); F, Gordon Berg (DEDJTR).

Figure 5. Shell variation axial–aperture view,Helicidae Garden Snails inAustralia:(A) Brown (Cornu)

Figure 6. Shell variation lateral–spire view, Helicidae Garden Snails inAustralia:(A) Brown (Cornu); (B) Green (Cantareus); (C) (formerly present) Chocolate Banded (Eobania) and (D) White (Theba). Scale bar = 5 mm; adults above line, juveniles below; specimen collection locations indicated in Table 2.

Figure 7. Shell variation lateral–umbilicus view, Helicidae Garden Snails in Australia: (A) Brown (Cornu); (B) Green (Cantareus); (C) (formerly present) Chocolate Banded (Eobania) and (D) White (Theba). Scale bar = 5 mm; adults above line, juveniles below; specimen collection locations indicated in Table 2.