A Field Guide to the Snails of Lord Howe Island

146 Introducedspecies-medium-sizedglobosesnails Family Bradybaenidae The Bradybaenidae are most diverse inAsia, but they are also found in Europe and eastern Africa. They comprise medium-sized, globose snails with glossy, translucent shells sculptured with microscopic spiral grooves. Bradybaenids have a head-wart that produces pheromones used to attract mates. As part of their courtship, they fire a small calcified dart into their partner. Bradybaena similaris (Férussac, 1821) Asian Tramp Snail Shell. Size: H = 9.1-12.5 mm, D = 12.3-15.2 mm. Colour: Pale golden brown to cream, sometimes with a chestnut coloured peripheral band. Shape: Subglobose to trochoidal with rounded whorls (angulate in juveniles) and a low to moderately raised, conical spire; sutures impressed. Sculpture: Shell smooth with microscopic sculpture of very fine spiral grooves. Aperture: Roundly lunate; lip reflected. Umbilicus: Narrowly open; partly obscured by reflected lip. Animal. Body colour cream to brown with cream to black eye tentacles. Key distinguishing features. This species can be distinguished from Lord Howe Island endemics by its subglobose shape and relatively large size. Habitat and occurrence. First recorded from Lord Howe Island in 1999 and only known from the Settlement region, in relatively disturbed habitats. This introduced Eurasian species is widespread in eastern Australia and worldwide. Remarks. Bradybaena similaris is considered to be an agricultural pest in eastern Australia, and can often reach very high population densities in some vegetable crops. Bradybaena similaris 5 mm