A Field Guide to the Snails of Lord Howe Island

79 Pseudocharopa ledgbirdi (Brazier, 1889) Mt Lidgbird Pinwheel Snail Shell. Size: H = 5.7-6.7 mm, D = 8.3-10.8 mm. Colour: Dark brown with cream-coloured, zigzagging flammulations. Shape: Ear-shaped with a moderately low spire and an expanded, rapidly increasing last whorl; whorl profile rounded, slightly flattened above periphery on last whorl; sutures impressed. Sculpture: Protoconch with fine microspiral cords and with weak radial ribs on second half, becoming more crowded towards teleoconch; teleoconch with prominent, curved, moderately widely spaced radial ribs, microradial threads and microspiral cords. Aperture: Ovate, breadth slightly greater than height; flattened on upper edge. Umbilicus: Moderately wide. Animal. Body grey to black with a cream to grey sole. Head and eye tentacles darker grey than tail. Key distinguishing features. Medium-sized, ear-shaped shell with raised spire and rapidly increasing last whorl; rounded whorl profile; moderately widely spaced radial ribs; open umbilicus. Habitat and occurrence. Mt Lidgbird and Mt Gower, living in rainforest on vertical rock faces, likely sheltering in small rock crevices during dry weather. Rare. Remarks. This species is currently listed as Critically Endangered in NSW. Its detectability is very low and it is most easily observed after rain crawling on wet rock faces. It is sympatric with P. exquisita on the summit of Mt Lidgbird and overlaps in range with P. whiteleggei , but in a different habitat type. Pseudocharopa ledgbirdi. Image L. Copeland.