common name: Camaenidae (snails) of Florida
scientific name: Zachrysia provisoria, Caracolus marginellus (Mollusca: Pulmonata)

Introduction - Zachrysia provisoria - Caracolus marginellus - Selected References

Introduction

 The Camaenidae is a diverse family of snails found throughout much of the tropics. The greatest diversity occurs in eastern Asia and the Australasian region. Many species are also known from Central and South America and some Caribbean Islands. Two introduced species, Zachrysia provisoria (Pfeiffer 1858) and Caracolus marginellus (Gmelin), occur in Florida. These Cuban species were purposefully released in Miami during the early 20th Century by Charles T. Simpson (Clapp 1919, Pilsbry 1939). The presence of viable populations of Z. provisoria in south Florida has been recognized for many years. Caracolus marginellus has recently been rediscovered in the Miami area.

dorsal view of Z. provisoria

Zachrysia provisoria

Shell medium-sized (25 to 30 mm width), globose in shape; four to five rapidly expanding whorls, body whorl increasing in size more than those of the spire; no umbilicus; sculptured with fairly regular, strong, retractively curved axial ribs; body whorl descends greatly near aperture; base swollen, fairly smooth and shining; apertural lip thickened within, slightly reflected; prominent protuberance or buttress on basal lip near columellar insertion; fresh specimens with rich, dark tan periostracum, sometimes with light brown axial streaks; apertural lip and columella white.

lateral view of Z. provisoria

Z. provisoria cannot be confused with any other species in south Florida due to its large size and strongly ribbed shell sculpture. In addition to the populations in Florida, Z. provisoria (sometimes assigned as a synonym or subspecies of Z. auricoma (Ferussac 1821)) has also been introduced in the Bahamas, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. In Florida it has been found in Broward, Collier, Dade, Hillsborough, Monroe, Palm Beach, and Pinellas counties (University of Florida (UF) Collections). It lives among leaf litter and among ornamental plantings.

Z. provisoria is a voracious herbivore and causes significant damage to ornamental plants in south Florida.

Caracolus marginellus

Shell large (35 to 45 mm), lenticular or depressed-trochoid in shape; sharply keeled at periphery of body whorl; five to six gradually expanding whorls; base slightly swollen, umbilical area slightly concave, umbilicus occasionally closed by reflected columellar lip; shell sculpture relatively smooth with irregular growth lines; body whorl descends almost vertically just before aperture; apertural lip greatly thickened within, reflected backward, protracted upward and backward at periphery; thickened parietal callus; columella short and stout; fresh specimens with tan periostracum, usually eroded from spire; dark brown and light brown to white bands of variable width and color intensity; peripheral keel usually white; apertural lip, columella, and parietal callus white, rose, or brownish in color.

C. marginellus is a very distinctive species and cannot be confused with other species occurring in Florida due to its large size and banded color pattern. Although the introduction was first recorded by Clapp (1919), the presence of viable populations of this large species remained unknown until it was rediscovered in 1991 (Auffenberg and Stange). It has since been collected from several localities near the former Charles T. Simpson residence at Lemon City, Little River, Dade County (UF Collections). Specimens were collected in leaf litter and on the trunks of the palm, Ptychosperma elegans (R. Br.) Blume.

C. marginellus has been observed feeding on fallen calabash flowers and the algae growing on palm trunks. This species is not considered to be an agricultural pest.

three views of C. marginellus

Selected References

Author: Kurt Auffenberg, Florida Museum of Natural History, and Lionel A. Stange, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Plant Industry.
Originally published as DPI Entomology Circular 356.
Photographs: Paul M. Choate, University of Florida; and Division of Plant Industry
Project Coordinator: Thomas R. Fasulo, University of Florida
Publication Number: EENY-118
Publication Date: November 1999. Latest revision: May 2004.
Copyright 1999-2004 University of Florida

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