By ae 
Family HELICELLIDAE 
Several species of this large family of Europe, western Asia, and north 
Africa have been introduced into North America. They belong to the 
genera Cochlicella, Helicella, Monacha, and Hygromia, and are alleither 
umbilicate or perforate and of medium to small size. Their shapes are 
variable, from long and rather narrow in Cochlicella barbara, to broad 
and flat in Helicella itala. 
Cochlicella barbara (Linnaeus) (= C. acuta (Mull. )) 

Elate- i; -B 
Shell thin, perforate, narrow, higher than wide, with somewhat flattened 
whorls. Color white, usually with reddish-brown transverse bands, The 
aperture is ovate-lunate, its outer lip sharp and not reflected. The 
columella is straight. Adult shells (with 8-10 whorls) are 18-20mm. long. 
Distribution: British Isles, Denmark, Sweden and southern Europe, the 
Mediterranean region, including North Africa. Introduced into Australia. 
Extremely resistant to dry weather, this snail may seal the shell opening 
with a series of successive membranes (epiphragms) to prevent loss of 
water. For this resting state it may seal itself to the underside of or 
within crates, or any other materials stored outside in the region where 
it lives. 
In western Australia, the species is reported to attack garden plants and 
others of economic importance, 
Cochlicella ventrosa (Ferussac) 
This species is very similar to C, barbara, but is shorter and broader, 
and its whorls tend to be moderately rounded. Its width is more than half 
the height. Adult shells (with 7-8 whorls) are 9-12 mm. long. 
Distribution: Mediterranean countries, Introduced into Bermuda, and the 
United States at South Carolina and California. 
Cochlicella conoidea (Draparnaud) 
Figure 11 
This species is similar to both C, barbara and C, ventrosa, 
but is shorter and wider than either (almost as wide as 
high), and has a roundly lunate aperture. Adults (with 6-7 
whorls) are 7-9 mm. long. 

Distribution: Mediterranean region. 
Figure 1l. 
Shell of Cochlicella conoidea 
