Conserving and restoring at risk species and ecosystems on the BC South Coast
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Allogona townsendiana
A member of the family Polygyridae (“land snails”) this species is one of the largest native terrestrial snails in BC. As with most snails, they are hermaphroditic (possessing both male and female sexual organs). Allogona male reproductive anatomy is unusual, from which the genus name meaning “different genitalia” is derived. Mating clusters of several forestsnail individuals is not uncommon.
COSEWIC: Endangered, BC List: Red
A “pulmonate” snail, this species have evolved their mantle cavity into a lung (instead of gills as still found in some snails). Breathing is through a single opening on the right side of the body which either remains open or opens and closes. Shell diameter 2.8-3.5 cm, shell diameter is 1.4 to 1.7 times shell height. One of the largest land snails in BC, the shell has 5 to 6 whorls (spirals) with lighter colored axial ribs (thin bands that cross each whorl). The uppermost whorls are often pale from wear. Shell colour ranges from gold to dark brown, lightening to amber around the aperture (shell opening). As the snail matures the shell can become bleached looking and begin to flake. This species lacks the ‘hairs’ found on the shell of other land snail species. The thick white aperture lip of adult snails is evident when viewing the snail from below; juveniles lack this thickened aperture lip.
RESOURCES
For further information see:
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