ZONITIDAE 



75 



Genus EUCONULUS Reinhardt 



The genus Eitconulus is distinguished by small, glassy, yel- 

 lowish-white, beehive-shaped shells, none of which much exceeds 

 one-eighth inch (3-4 mm.) in diameter. The height of the shell 

 is usually over three-fourths the diameter. The base of the 

 body whorl is convex. The upper surfaces of the whorls are 

 well rounded, and the sutures are deeply indented. The umbili- 

 cal opening is small. The edge of the outer lip is thin. 



The animal is bluish black on the head and upper part of 

 the body, which shades to a lighter color on the sides and base. 

 The foot is very narrow and elongated. 



The Euconulus snails, most abundant in floodplain areas 

 bordering streams, live under loose bark and on decayed logs 

 in forests of oak, elm, hickory and persimmon. Only rarely 

 are more than two snails found in one spot. 



Key to Species 



Shell with 6 to 63^-2 whorls; body whorl rounded. . . .chersinuSy p. 76 

 Shell with 5 whorls; body whorl angular fulvus, p. 75 



EUCONULUS FULVUS (MiJller) 



The small, yellowish-white shell of Euconulus fulvus meas- 

 ures about one-eighth inch (3 mm.) in height and slightly more 

 (4 mm.) in diameter. The whorls. 5 in number, are rounded on 



the spire, but slightly angulated at the periphery on the body 

 whorl, the angle usually disappearing at the end of the first half 

 turn of the whorl. The whorls are wider than those in Euconu- 

 lus chersinus, and the aperture is elliptical. Occasionally speci- 

 mens are found in which the carination of the body whorl is 

 rather sharp and is continued to the aperture. 



The species is found widely scattered throughout Illinois. 



