Description ²

A minute arboreal snail, 2-3 mm in length. Pilsbry describes it as

Shell oblong, tapering to the obtuse summit, olivaceous brown, slightly translucent. Sculpture of thread-like striae, strongest on the penult [sic] and next earlier whorls, often partially obsolete on the last. No crest. Four strong white teeth. Length 2.45 to 2.8 mm., diameter 1.25 to 1.3 mm.; 5 1/2 to nearly 6 whorls.

Also see Pilsbry's illustration and images from jaxshells.org.

Habitat ²

Pilsbry cites a report that they can be present by the hundreds on the branches of hazel or other mossy trees. Burke (2013) writes, "It is a forest species, often found on branches of shrubs (e.g. ocean spray), and in forest floor litter" (p. 100).

I have only ever found one on a lichen-covered tree branch.

Distribution ²

Pilsbry reports it from Oregon down to the San Bernardino Mountains. Burke (2013) reports it from Vancouver down to west-central California.

Taxonomy ²

Burke (2013) writes,

For many years this species was known as Vertigo rowellii (Newcomb), but the original type specimen of V. rowellii was instead what has been known as V. californica (Rowell, 1861). Correcting the nomenclature for V. californica then leaves what has been called V. rowellii without a Latin name.

Here we're using the names from Roth & Sadeghian (2006), but keep in mind this tiny snail may have a new name.

Sources and Credits

1. (c) Ken-ichi Ueda, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Ken-ichi Ueda
2. (c) Ken-ichi Ueda, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)

More Info

• iNat taxon page
• Animal Diversity Web
• Biodiversity Heritage Library
• BOLD Systems BIN search
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
• SeaLifeBase
• World Register of Marine Species

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