A Field Guide to the Snails of Lord Howe Island

27 Family Assimineidae (Palmleaf Snails) The Assimineidae are a group of minute to small, amphibious to terrestrial snails that are found world-wide in temperate to tropical regions. Most species are amphibious, spending much of their time out of the water. Terrestrial species appear to have evolved repeatedly, being found throughout the islands of the southern Pacific (including Lord Howe and Norfolk Islands), as well as Madagascar, the Mascarenes, India, the Philippines, southeast Asia, Papua New Guinea, Taiwan and Japan, although none are found on mainland Australia. Species are characterised by small, ovate to conical shells with a high to low spire and smooth, rounded whorls. The aperture is simple and there is a thin, corneous, usually paucispiral operculum. The head has a broad snout and short to long eye-tentacles. 2 mm