Amber Snails of Northeast North America
Welcome to the Project!
All are welcome to join and participate!
Introduction
As many users are now aware, iNaturalist's AI has been oversuggesting Genus Succinea and specifically the Common European Ambersnail (Succinea putris). Please refer to discussions at this observation, this taxon flag, and this ...more ↓
All are welcome to join and participate!
Introduction
As many users are now aware, iNaturalist's AI has been oversuggesting Genus Succinea and specifically the Common European Ambersnail (Succinea putris). Please refer to discussions at this observation, this taxon flag, and this forum post for more information. Generally, it seems the best option, at least initially, is to leave the identification at the family level - Succineidae (Amber Snails). Several users have already dedicated considerable time to fix the many Succinea putris observations. As this has been an ongoing issue and could present itself in the future, let's coordinate our efforts to see if any progress can be made toward better identifications.
Purpose/Goals
- Add amber snails observations from northeastern North America to the project
- Remove overconfident/incorrect taxonomic identifications
- Develop best practices for succineid identifications (e.g. the many Genus Succinea observations v. Family Succineidae)
- Share resources to help interested users learn more about amber snails!
- Try to add verifiable specimens/observations for species currently with none/few on iNaturalist
- Determine (eventually) whether and where genus- and species-level identifications are appropriate or possible
Species List
Not all species are present in every state or province, but all of the following are present somewhere in the project range. This list is also not necessarily exhaustive; more revisions may be made.
| Scientific Name | Common Name (link to iNat) | Status | More Info |
| Mediappendix hubrichti 1 | Snowhill Ambersnail | Vuln | Carnegie MNH |
| Mediappendix oklahomarum 1 | Detritus Ambersnail | - | Carnegie MNH |
| Mediappendix vagans 1 | Mudbank Ambersnail | Vuln | Carnegie MNH |
| Mediappendix vermeta 1 | Suboval Ambersnail | - | Carnegie MNH |
| Novisuccinea ovalis | Oval Ambersnail | - | Carnegie MNH |
| Oxyloma decampii |
Marshall Ambersnail | - | - |
| Oxyloma effusum | Coastal-plain Ambersnail | Vuln | Carnegie MNH |
| Oxyloma groenlandicum | Ruddy Ambersnail | Vuln | Carnegie MNH |
| Oxyloma peoriense | Depressed Ambersnail | - | Carnegie MNH |
| Oxyloma retusum | Blunt Ambersnail | - | Carnegie MNH |
| Oxyloma subeffusum | Chesapeake Ambersnail | Vuln | Carnegie MNH |
| Oxyloma verrilli |
Maritime Ambersnail | Crit | - |
| Succinea campestris | Crinkled Ambersnail | - | Carnegie MNH |
| Succinea chittenangoensis 2 | Chittenango Ovate Amber Snail | Crit | Carnegie MNH |
| Succinea indiana | Xeric Ambersnail | - | Carnegie MNH |
| Succinea wilsonii | Golden Ambersnail | - | Carnegie MNH |
Recent Taxonomic Changes
1 Genus Catinella --> Genus Mediappendix
2 Genus Novisuccinea --> Genus Succinea
European Species with Observations in Project Range
| Scientific Name | Common Name (link to iNat) | More Info |
| Oxyloma elegans | Slender Amber Snail | - |
| Succinea putris | Common European Ambersnail | Carnegie MNH |
There is confusion about the existence of Succinea putris in North America in the sources.
Additional Resources
Identifying Land Snails and Slugs in Canada: Introduced Species and Native Genera (thank you upupa-epops)
Invert-E-Base Museum Collection Search
Land Snails and Slugs of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States less ↑
