Anguispira kochi
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Anguispira kochi | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Order: | Stylommatophora |
| Family: | Discidae |
| Genus: | Anguispira |
| Species: | A. kochi |
| Binomial name | |
| Anguispira kochi (Pfeiffer, 1846) | |
Anguispira kochi, the banded tigersnail, is a species of pulmonate terrestrial gastropod belonging to the family Discidae, the disk snails. There are two recognized subspecies: Anguispira kochi kochi or the eastern banded tigersnail, and Anguispira kochi occidentalis, the western banded tigersnail.
The banded tigersnail is a fairly large snail, with an adults typically ranging from 2-2.5 cm in size. They possesses a striated, heliciform shell, typically yellow, chestnut, or light brown in color.[1] A defining feature is the light-colored band that runs along the shell's periphery, bordered by a darker band on each side. The head and tentacles are typically gray in color, with a brown or orange foot. However, snail morphology can vary widely between regions and populations, especially if the population is isolated.[2]
Range
The banded tigernsail is found across the United States and Canada. Its range is disjunct, with distinct western and eastern portions.[2][3] The western banded tigersnail inhabits the western portion of their range, extending from British Columbia to Oregon. The eastern range, populated by the eastern banded tigersnail, extends from Ontario to as far south as Tennessee.[4]
In 2017, the eastern banded tigersnail was declared critically endangered in Ontario, where it is only found on a few islands in Lake Erie.[2] The most robust and well-studied populations exist on Pelee Island and Middle Island after the species' extirpation from Middle Sister Island, East Sister Island, and North Harbour Island. It is also listed as critically endangered, possibly extirpated, in West Virginia and Michigan.[5] It is listed as vulnerable in Tennessee and Kentucky.[4]
In contrast, the western banded tigersnail is listed as secure or 'not at risk' across most of its range.[4]