Note postage stamp edge above!!Robert V J VARMAN'S
LAND SNAILS OF
NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA
COLLECTIONS
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Micros from Norah Head.
Note postage stamp edge above!!
Important to Know
I am not a taxonomist and have made do with what publications I could get for identification. The taxonomy may be faulty but each name has a documented specimen to back it up, in other words, each name used here should be regarded as 'an anchor'. Many shells described have been drawn to scale and the specimens bagged and numbered with details as to where the snails were found and when. Journals document the various excursions I have made. For each inadequate name there is a definite specimen with full documentation. I intend to improve in time. The decision to share what I had found at this stage is based on the thought that others studying related species or geographical areas may benefit in some way and hopefully share their expertise. This work reminds me of a modern Greek saying, "Start badly but end well".
Click on the underlined for illustrations. The illustrations are only scale-sketches which I prepared to help me classify the shells as I found them, they are not 'finished drawings'. The numbers refer to the manuscript page numbers. Go straight to NSW Snail Gallery, though that's sort of cheating!
1. Opeas like form. 4.3mm by 2.4mm, five whorls, the last very inflated; semi-transparent;the aperture 'U'shaped but the left upper half cut off. North Gosford bushland.
2. Opeas like form, similar to the above but with the whorls squared rather than rounded. 7.8mm by 2.7mm, six whorls. Yellowish hue on the upper half. Anvil Creek, Greta.
(Illustrations 1 and 2 are the same)
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(Illustrations 3, 4 and 4a are the same)
3.Elasmias sp type I (like Tornelasmias). Coastal. 3.2mm by 1.4mm, five whorls. Single 'tooth' clearly seen in adults and juveniles. Forresters Beach, Central Coast. A slightly smaller version was found at Norah Head (See 4).
4. Elasmias sp, type II. Coastal. 2.9mm by 1.8mm, 4 whorls. Smaller and broader than No 3. These are destinct because though found with No 3, there were no intermediate types. Norah Head.
4a. Elasmias sp, type III. Coastal. 3mm by 1.5mm, 4 whorls. Distinct from Nos 3 and 4, by having a finer 'tooth', growth ribs slightly irregular but very distinct; the columella has a strong kink or dog-leg, callous clearly fans out from the aperture. The aperture is more expanded than No 4 but the shell slightly taller and marginally thinner. Little Bay, Toowoon Point. This type dominates the area and is found with non-typical coastal species (as seen elsewhere along the Central Coast).
(Illustrations 5a, 6 and 7 are the same)
5. Pupa type sp, type I. Coastal. 4mm by 2mm, 6 whorls. Classic pupa shape with flared, trumpet-like lip. Sinistral. Single toothed. Norah Head and Forresters Beach (and Booti Booti).
6. Pupa type sp, type I. Coastal. Slight variation with strong striations on shell.
7. Shows juveniles of Nos 5 and 6, have sharply angled perifery, resulting in a sort of cut-off appearance--the lips are not flared.
(Illustrations 9 and 10 are the same)
8 and 9. Pupa type II. Australbinula strangeana. Coastal. 3mm by 1.5mm, five whorls. Similar in shape and appearance to the above but multi-toothed, typically with a double tooth above with five small teeth arranged to the sides and below. Norah Head and Forresters Beach. Variations do occur but mainly due to the age of the shall, older specimens have better developed teeth. Found in huge numbers.
A
selection from Norah Head. Note the juveniles
Four specimens found at Nelson Bay had the usual double tooth but even in old specimens seemed only to have four other teeth. All the above are fairly centred.
10. Pupa type III. Australbinula? sp. Inland. 3.3mm by 1.5mm, 5 whorls. Sinistral. Thinner compared to the others and the whorls more rounded with deeper sutures. The aperture has a latitudinally squashed appearance, compared to the rounded apertures of the coastal species. Has the two upper teeth but otherwise only four other teeth, the mid base one is distinctly longer than the others. Kurri Kurri and Greta.
(Illustrations 10a and 10b are the same)
10a. Pupa type IV. Australbinula? sp. Coastal. 3mm by 1.5mm, 5 whorls. Sinistral.Differs from the other coastal types by the rounded whorls and deep sutures. Shell is almost transparent. The aperture is not as centred, distinctly to the left. Has a small double tooth and only two others, the columella tooth is quite large compared to the others. Little Bay, Toowoon Point. One specimen.
10b. Pupa type V. Australbinula? sp. Coastal. 2.3mm by 1.3mm, 4 whorls. Dextral!!!! Small. Very rounded whorls and deep sutures. Seems a mature specimen because of the well developed teeth. The arrangement of the teeth is similar to type IV but more robust. The aperture seems more centred than type IV. Little Bay, Toowoon Point. One specimen.
11-13. Pupa type VI. Australbinula sp. Dextral!!!! Coastal. 2.2mm by 1.4mm, 4 whorls. Superficially the dextral or mirror version of the sinistral Australbinula strangeana but there are significant differences: smaller size, some of the single teeth (only 4, columella and base) are more robustly developed and the aperture seems more angular. Norah Head, Forresters Beach, Booti Booti and Nelson Bay!! Looks similar to Australbinula margaretae of South Australia
14. Pupa type VII. Themapupa sp type. Inland. Superficially resembles 'Opeas' No 1 but has the typical trumpet-like aperture of a pupa and the whorls are more regularly increasing from the apex to the last whorl. Whorls more rounded and sutures are well defined. Wombeyan Caves.
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(Illustrations 15 and 16 are the same)
15. Turrisitala parramattensis, Cox (1864) Common Turrisitala. Inland and Coastal. 3.4mm by 3mm, 4 1/2 whorls. Elegant turbinate shell. Norah Head, Soldiers Point, Forresters Beach, Terrigal, Avoca, North Gosford, Wyong, Queen's Wharf--Parramatta and Greta.
16. Turrisitala sp. Pigmy Turrisitala. This is a miniature verson of T. parramattensis but is umbilicated (fairly narrow). 1.4mm by 1.3mm, 4 1/2 whorls. Forresters Beach and Parramatta(?).
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17. Toothed micro. 1.3mm by 1 to 1.3mm (due to expanded aperture). Turbinate micro shell superficially like the Pigmy Turrisitala but the suture may be slightly deeper impressed, deep very narrow umbilicus. The aperture is considerably expanded out and downwards. Appears to be strongly toothed!!! (however, dirt obscured the exact nature of the teeth). Only one specimen found at North Gosford, despite repeated searches. The shape is not quite right for Phophodon peregrinus of Northern New South Wales.
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17a. Cochlicella ventricosum. Tiny Spiral Shell. Banded. The juveniles show a strong carination. Found in a sloping long grassed area next to the beach, Toowoon Point, Little Bay. An introduced species according to Phil Colman.
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ZONITOID TYPES
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(Illustrations 18 and 19 are the same)
18. Name? Coastal and inland. A snail similar in appearance as Oxychilus alliarus (No 19-Garlic snail) but is generally half the size (compare the whorls) and has a medium sized umbilicus for the size of the shell. Small flattish, clear, unicolour--yellowish hue. Base of shell impressed, umbilicus coiling. The outer lip of some specimens curve outward. 3.3mm by 2mm, 3 1/2 whorls. North Gosford.
Soldiers Point, Munmorah, North Gosford and Wyong.
Some specimens are larger 4.3mm by 2.2mm, 3 1/2 whorls. One over-sized variety was found at Soldiers Beach. 5.4mm by 2.3mm, 4 1/2 whorls.
19. Oxychilus alliarus, Garlic Snail. Miniscule umbilicus, clear shell of a golden yellow colour, slight carination. The animal is a distinct yellow orange colour with blackish 'veins' or blotches. 7.8mm max. by 4.5mm approx., 3 3/4 whorls. Coast and inland Central Coast, Sydney, Parramatta, Booti Booti, Greta, Wombeyan Caves.
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MICRO SNAILS (PARALAOMIDAE ETC)
These are very difficult to classify.
Turbinate
20. (?Paralaoma morti , Cox or similar but apex not ascending). Planar; last whorl rounded; aperture rounded 3/4 lunar shape; spire appears as a plateau in profile; very strongly impressed suture; impressed base; ribbing not strongly indicated; medium to small unbilicus (obscured). 1.4mm by 0.7mm, 3 whorls.
(Illustrations 21A and 21 B are the same)
21 (A). Similar to No 20 but the apical whorls are raised also, giving a turbinate appearance. Impressed base; medium to large well-like umbilicus. The last whorl is slightly expanded, longitudinally descending, particularly at the aperture; slight carination. A distinguishing feature is the very outstanding, irregular, curved, coarse, ribbing of the upper shell. 1.7mm max by 11mm, 3-3 1/2 whorls, regularly expanding until near the aperture. North Gosford.
21 (B). ?Paralaoma morti, Cox. Similar to 21 (A) but more flattened at the top with a distinct but rounded carination (see in profile), the lower half more inflated. Medium to large well-like umbilicus as 21 (A). The ribbing is much finer and seems more angled with colour streaks. Aperture relatively large and rounded. 2mm by 1.4mm, 3 1/2 whorls, regularly expanding. Forresters Beach.
21 (C). Small turbinate shell; rounded whorls and aperture. Very fine irregular ribbing (seen x20) the apical whorl smooth. Deep and wide well-like unbilicus. 11mm by 0.8mm, 3 whorls, regularly expanding. Forresters Beach and Norah Head.
22. ?Paralaoma morti, Cox. This shell is a slightly larger version of 21 (B) but the whorls are rounded when seen in profile. The apex is smooth for two whorls (proto-conch?). 2.4mm by 1.3mm, 4-4 1/2 whorls. Forresters Beach.
23. Turbinate, three tiers above the last whorl, instead of two, as the above but the shell is smooth; the base curiously inflated so that the shell wobbles when placed on a flat surface; narrow well-like umbilicus. The whorl tends to a rounded triangular shape which is also expressed in the descending aperture. 2.2mm by 1.4mm, 4 whorls. Forresters Beach.
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Planar
(Illustrations 24-26 are the same)
24. Planar shaped shell with a slightly descending very rounded whorl, creating a wide but spiralling umbilicus. The smooth protoconch is very clearly seen. The protoconch is unusually large and the whorls continue to expand slowly but regularly from there. The ribbing is distinctly expressed above and below and fairly regularly placed, slightly slanted. Aperture descending and crescent shaped.4 1/2 whorls. Forresters Beach, Terrigal Beach etc.
25. Planar and superficially similar to No 24. The shell sits higher, like a traditional cheese (rounded rectangular type), probably due to the whorls which are flattened at the sides. The protoconch is smooth but smaller than in No 24. The whorl is fairly rapidly expanding, slightly descending, creating a very wide, broadly descending umbilicus (not to a pin-point as in No 24). Ribs regularly narrowly spaced but weak. Ear-shaped aperture. 3.1mm by 1.5mm, 4-41/2 whorls. Forresters Beach, Terrigal Beach etc.
26. Superficially resembles No 25 BUT is more flattened above and below, not descending. The ribs are well expressed, very regular and widely spaced. Shallow suture. A distinct shell because the protoconch and the first few whorls are smooth. Wide spirling umbilicus as No 25. The aperture is expanded, squarish at the top and rounded at the base--plunging toward the umbilicus (ear lobe). 2.7mm by 1.1mm, 4 whorls. North Gosford.
NOTE. The apex is slightly off-set when viewed from above which seems, to me, an abnormal feature. It is possible that the shell was damaged at the protoconch stage or soon after. The unusually smooth juvenile shell was also found on shell No 31.
27 A. Planar shaped shell, flat on top but the whorl regularly expanding at the lower half downwards: this has resulted in a very wide well-like umbilicus with only a trace of spiralling (as in a spiral staircase), unlike Nos 24-26. The ribbing is regularly spaced but almost obselete (above and below). The aperture is shaped like a kidney and descending (as most of the last whorl). Protoconch smooth. 2.3mm by 1.1mm, 4 whorls. North Gosford.
27 B. Similar to No 27A but is regularly ribbed, particularly on the upper half. The spire is flatly ascending, plateau-like. The specimen was lost during drawing (15.12.1990).
28. ? Elsothera sericatula. The shell sits fairly high like a traditional cheese (rounded rectangular type). Spire very slightly expanded, plateau-like but uneven looking in profile. Whorls flattened with a fairly low, rounded, carination; regularly and strongly increasing, as seem from above. Ribs weak but regularly spaced, epidemis with brown-red striations or flashes, above and below. Umbilicus medium wide and otherwise as in No 27A. Protoconch... If the epidermis is removed, no trace of the colour flashes remain. Aperture like No 26, though more widely expanded. 3mm by 1.4mm, 3 1/2 whorls. North Gosford.
(Illustrations 29 and 30 are the same)
29. Large micro shell possibly allied to No 28 in terms of the slightly rising plateau-like spire (three tiers and slightly irregular in profile), the ribbing and colour flashes. The suture is well impressed with an angled groove. The whorls are more slowly increasing and though principally rounded, becomes distinctly angled on the last whorl, almost squarish but expanding out on the lower outer side. Aperture is angled at the top, the result of the suture, descends outward in a straightish line, then curves toward the flat base and then angles in toward the columella. The coiling is irregular, as seen at the umbilicus, a series of gradual angles for the last 1 1/2 whorls. Smooth protoconch and succeeding whorl. . Wide spiral umbilicus. The ribs are closely and regularly spaced, moderately well defined. Dark brown bands irregularly spaced, some darker striations also, on the last whorl. 5.1mm by 2.4mm, 4 1/4 whorls. Anvil Creek, Greta. These have not been found on the Central Coast.
30. A huge species as it seems to belong to the Nos 28, 29 series. The smooth protoconch is huge (max 0.7mm); the whorls slowly increasing from there but expanding fairly rapidly on the last quarter whorl. Whorls rounded. The suture area deep but rounded. Very slightly rising plateau-like spire, (one tier only comprising the second last whorl but seen only in part on the profile view). The aperture is like a 3/4 crescent and is slightly descending. The umbilicus is very wide and open, resembling No 28. The ribbing is distinct, fairly regular and slightly curved. Very interestingly, the ribs are arranged alternately thick and thin! but the base is smooth. Some brown-reddish striations or bands on the last whorl, particularly the last quarter. 7.5mm by 3.5mm, 4 1/2 whorls. Smith's Lake, Bungwahl (on the way to Nelson Bay).
31. Possibly the same as No 26 (slightly abnormal) but the wide well-like umbilicus plunges down rather than spirals and the aperture is more of a squarish shape. The ribs are very outstanding and widely spaced. The ribs are weak on the underside (unlike No 26).
32. Different to all the above species in that it has a narrow and deep umbilicus and that the last whorl makes up the whole of the visible underside of the shell. Large protoconch (6mm max) which has fine ribbing. On the upper side the ribs are strongly indicated and curved, though some ribs are robust, others finer. Deep suture. On the under side of the shell there are just fine regular lines. Very deflated spite, plateau-like as in Nos 27B and 30. The whorls are rounded and slowly but regularly increasing (seen on upper side only). The slightly descending aperture is complex: from above the lip is shaped like a shallow reversed letter 'c'; in profile the aperture looks to be pushed in at the middle, almost a shallow reversed numeral '3'; the base plunges toward the umbilicus and looks like a stretched 's'. Has brown-reddish irregular streaking. 4mm by 1.6mm, 3 1/2 whorls. North Gosford. Mature specimen? Similar specimens show a more rounded aperture (Forresters Beach).
33A. Probably an immature specimen of the preceeding, judging by the umbilicus. The apertures are more rounded, kidney shaped with an inflated base. 1.7mm by 1mm, 2 3/4 whorls. Immature? Terrigal Beach, Forresters Beach and North Gosford
33B. Very similar to No 33A but the protoconch appears to be smooth, the colour streaks are better defined and regular; and the ribbing seems to be emphasised by the epidermis rather than the shell alone. The last whorl seems more descending. 2.4mm by 1mm, 3 whorls. Immature? North Gosford.
34. A very distinct planar shell (flat spire). The whorls are minutely and regularly increasing, giving a tight coiled appearance. The whorls angular as seen at the profile, base and top views. The ribs are well expressed and regularly and fairly tightly spaced. Deep sutures, almost forming a 'v' shape. Distinct rounded carination along the upper half of the shell. In contrast to the above, the umbilicus region is very wide and spirals regularly to a point in the centre. The aperture is not descending and is the shape of a mug handle, rounded at the upper and lower ends, set at an angle. 1.8mm by 0.6mm, 4 1/2 whorls. A fairly uncommon snail at Terrigal Beach, Forresters Beach and Norah Head. One found at Norah Head is slightly larger (2mm by 0.8mm) and the last whorl appears to descend.
35. A distinct shell with a small umbilicus like No 32. The nature of the shell is unusual, semi-transparent (almost glowing). The whorl is very rounded but with strong angles adjacent to the suture, it is rapidly and regularly increasing. The base is well impressed and 'v' shaped and made up of the last whorl only. No spire seen in profile. The protoconch is ribbed (grainy looking); the ribbing of the upper shell is well expressed and regular; the underside much finer. The aperture is ear-like and expanded with a short sharp angle at the top due to the 'v' shape above the suture, the aperture base loops generously toward the umbilicus. 3.4mm by 1.8mm, 3 1/2 whorls.
36. This number was taken up by what turned out not to be shell after all (pers. comm. Phil Colman). A primative trochid looking shell with a centre perferation right through the shell (where the twig used to be). Created by the spit of a (famale) creture allied with cicadas. The shell has growth lines and a pinched carination, as if composed of two layers of pastry pinched together; from above the suture appears margined (where the pinching occurs). Most are dextral but a percentage are sinistral. Accidents at an early stage of development can misform the shell, in one case noticed the carination was missing after the first whorl. The shell starts off as a minute tube, descending and then begins to spiral round (usually) around the stem of a budding or flowering twig. The shell is fully mature by the time the flower begins to turn into a seed. These creatures seem to know when to start coiling because on one branch the creatures seem staggered to suit the budding and flowering stage. Teagardens, Wyong, Old Government House at Parramatta, Parramatta Park (on remnant forest eucalyptus trees, mainly E. tereticornis). Anvil Creek, Greta.
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Freshwater snails (Micro)
37. A primitive looking coiling freshwater snail. A transparent shell, yellowing with maturity. Appears smooth but has very fine ribbing. On the base of the shell there is a series of dots running along the centre of the shell from the aperture to the centre. Coils along the horizontal axis, regularly and considerably expanding, hence there is no umbilicus. The carination is rounded and centred. The aperture ovoid and expanding along the axis. There sems to be a grainy sort of margin along the suture. Specimens damaged. 3.4mm by 8mm, 3 whorls (?).
38. Posticobia sp. (formerly Paludestrina sp). A 'tall',compact freshwater snail with tumid whorls, circular aperture with a thickened peristome. 2.1mm by 2mm, 3 whorls. Anvil Creek, Greta. Also seen elsewhere in the general district.
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Larger Snail Species
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39. Strangesta sp. Carnivorous Snail. Usual discoidal type; very shiny-almost plastic, or glassy, looking. Medium wide, deep spiral umbilicus area. Distinct fine ribbing. Yellowish base colour with red-brown bands and flashes. Some are reddish-orange with darker purple-brown colour bands and flashes (25mmby 12mm). 25mm by 12mm, 3 1/4 whorls. Berkeleyvale (Titswood)
40. Strangesta sp. A distinct small and comparatively highly elevated species with the usual glassy ribbing and colour bands. 17mm by 10mm, 2 1/2 whorls. Probably not mature. Moonie Mooni.
41 A. Strangesta sp. Small, yellow with red-brown bands. Juvenile. The protoconch is clearly seen (partly ribbed). North Gosford. 7mm by 3mm, 2 1/2 whorls.
41B. Strangest sp. Immature specimen from Berkeleyvale.Brownish hue. (Titswood).
42. Strangesta sp. A small species found inland in the Gosford-Brisbane Waters area. Some have the regular ribbing of the usual Strangesta others without (though could be microscopic). A semi-transparent shell of a citroen-yellow colour with some reddish streaks. Otherwise the usual planar proportions of Strangesta. 6mm by 2.3mm, 2 3/4 whorls. Wollombi River, Wyong Creek, most areas on the Central Coast.
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43. Meridolum gilberti, Pfeiffer, 1846. A beautiful shell, slightly larger than the common garden snail. The long dead shell without the epidermus is a yelowish colour with purple sub-sutural bands, base, and streaking near the inflated, very descending, aperture. With the epidermus, has dark brown, almost black, subsutural bands, dark brown near the umbilical area. Umbilicus obscured. The body is mainly medium-dark brown and has white bands on the upper and lower parts. Colour patterns can vary. Juvenile shells are strongly carinated. 29mm by 23mm, 5 whorls. Berkeleyvale (Titswood).
44. Meridolum sp (a bit like Meridolum mastersi, Cox, 1864). These are duller with markings less strong. Unicolour below--light tan but with a purple marking around the umbilicus, subsutural purple brown band. Umbilicus obscured. Smooth protoconch. A faint line at the (mid) carination level. The growth striations, or coarse ribs, are much less defined below the carination level. The lip of the moderately inflated aperture area curves outward a bit. Inflated aperture, slightly descending. Wyong, Ourimbah, Tumbi Umbi, (old) Chittaway bridge area. A similar type was found in the Kurri Kurri area. 25mm by 17mm, five whorls.
45. Meridolum sp??. A small dullish inland species. Dull pinky-grey with a rich subsutural band. The shell is distinguished by very regular and tight oblique striations, lighter creasing below. Whorls slowly expanding.Pinkish white colouring above the lip. Umbilicus half obscured. Has a Juveniles have a sharp carination. 14mm by 12mm, 4 whorls. Anvil Creek, Greta.
46. Shell similar to No 45 but higher and slightly smaller. Has a subsutural band and basal stain around the umbilicus. Obliquely striated.Possibly introduced but resembles Helix jervisensis (as in Cox, 1868, p30). Coastal. Some 250 shells collected at Soldiers Point, near Norah Head. 15mm by 11mm, 3 1/2 whorls.
47. Granulated protoconch (smoothish below) of ?? Possibly a Chloritis sp. 2.7mm by1.8mm. Anvil Creek, Greta.
48. Chloritis sp. Deep medium brown colour with a reddish hue. Medium impressed suture, marginated. Largish protoconch. The umbilicus becomes partly closed as the animal gets older. Distinguished by fine short hairs closely but evenly spaced (appears grainy). On the base very, very fine striations under the epidermus. The lip curves outards dramatically. 8mm by 6mm, 3 1/2 whorls. Wyong, Central Coast in general. A very similar type was found in the Blue Mountains
49 A. Chloritis sp. Similar in shape as No 48. Epidermis has the usual short hairs but the shell is minutely pitted. Umbilicus partly obscured. Slightly larger than No 48, the base has no striations but distant hairs or spots. The colour is also distinctive, being a faded dull yellow colour. Smith's Lake, Bungwahl.
49 B. Chloritis sp. A similar type to 49 B has a wider umbilicu and very fine irregular lines under the epidermis. Jenolen Caves.
50. Vercularion freycineti,...... Lamellaria-shaped shell. Semi transparent, glassy, brownish olive shell with the occasional dark streak. Some are a lighter green. Pearly white on the inside, slightly irridescent. Slightly thickened outer edge of lip. 20mm by 5mm, 2 1/2 whorls. Berkeleyvale.
Significant variations found at: Smith's Lake, Bumgwahl, Hawkesbury area (north of Wiseman's Ferry) and Moonee Moonee. (Not yet drawn).
Updated: 27 July 1997: These need to be re-examined as a beginning to providing them with their proper scientific names. The next lists will deal with my boxed specimens.