A Field Guide to the Snails of Lord Howe Island

62 Family Charopidae (Pinwheel Snails) The Lord Howe Island charopids number ten species, ranging in shell diameter from 1.7-17.7 mm and including Australia’s largest charopid, Pseudocharopa whiteleggei. Three species are listed as critically endangered and one may be extinct. Several additional species are extremely rare. Targeted leaf litter collecting would be of great benefit in increasing our knowledge of these cryptic species. Genus Charopella Iredale, 1944 Shell. Size: H = 1.3-1.9 mm, D = 3-3.6 mm. Colour: Cream and golden- brown to orange-brown flammulations. Shape: Discoidal with a low to moderately raised spire; whorls shouldered with an angulate periphery. Sculpture: Protoconch with weak spiral sculpture; teleoconch with fine to coarse radial ribs. Aperture: Rounded, lunate. Umbilicus: Moderately widely to widely open. Animal. Body white with dark grey eyestalks. Habitat. Found living in litter in rainforest and moist woodland. Remarks. Larger than Gyropena ; smaller than Goweroconcha , Hedleyoconcha , Mystivagor and Pseudocharopa . Differs from Pulcharopa and Diphyoropa in its banded rather than flammulated or uniform-coloured shell, with more crowded radial ribs, a raised spire and an angulate periphery. Charopella wilkinsoni (Brazier, 1889) Wilkinson’s Pinwheel Snail Shell. Size: H = 1.3-1.7 mm, D = 3-3.6 mm. Colour: Pale golden-brown with cream and orange-brown flammulations on the upper (and sometimes lower) surface. Shape: Discoidal with a low spire; whorls shouldered with an angulate periphery. Sculpture: Protoconch with weak spiral sculpture; teleoconch with fine, closely spaced radial ribs, crossed by strong microspiral cords, and microradial threads. Aperture: Rounded, lunate. Umbilicus: Widely open.