A Field Guide to the Snails of Lord Howe Island

24 General Key 1. Slug (no external shell) or slug-like (plate-like shell covered by mantle lobes) 1a. Snail or semislug with external shell visible 2. Shell not fully internalised; tail less than half body length 2a. Shell fully internalised; tail half to two thirds body length 3. Mantle about one third of body length 3a. Mantle between half and one third of body length 4. Shell sinistrally coiled, pupiform 4a. Shell dextrally coiled, not pupiform 5. Shell elongately conical with a tall, slender spire 5a. Shell shape not elongately conical 6. Shell very large (height > 40 mm), solid 6a. Shell less than 40 mm in height 7. Shell smooth and glossy, transparent (sometimes pearly in dead shells) 7a. Shell not glossy, textured with growth lines or ribs 8. Shell less than 4 mm in height 8a. shell 7-11 mm in height 9. Shell around 10mm in height, banded or speckled 9a. Shell less than 10mm in height, unicoloured 10. Shell smooth, glossy 10a. Shell not glossy, with strong growth lines or sculpture 11. Shell globose with a conical spire 11a. Shell not globose 12. Large snail, shell diameter 25-40 mm 12a. Shell diameter less than 25 mm ............................. go to 2 ............................. go to 4 Parmellops (Helicarionidae) ............................. go to 3 Limacidae Deroceras (Agriolimacidae) Palaina (Diplommatinidae) ............................. go to 5 ............................. go to 6 ........................... go to 10 Placostylus (Bothriembryontidae) ............................. go to 7 ............................. go to 8 ............................. go to 9 Achatinellidae ( excluding Elasmias) Allopeas (Subulinidae) Cochlicella (Geomitridae) Assimineidae ........................... go to 11 Charopidae / Punctidae / Valloniidae Cornu (Helicidae) ........................... go to 12 Gudeoconcha (Helicarionidae) ........................... go to 13