Euconulidae

Family

Euconulidae

Species

Euconulus spp.

Common name

Brown hive, Hives

E. alderi: Shiny hive

E. chersinus: Wild hive

E. dentatus: Toothed hive

E. fulvus: Brown hive

E. polygyratus: Fat hive

E. trochulus: Silk hive

Description

This small group of snails only attains a maximum widthWidth:
The width of the shell is the maximum distance across the shell (including the aperture).
of 3.5 mm. They are generally dome or bee hive-shaped, pale brown and glossy. The apertureAperture:
The major opening of a shell that the body of the animal may be retracted.
is crescent shaped. There are approximately 25 species in the genus Euconulus, with six species currently occurring in the eastern U.S.:

E. alderi: 2.1 mm high, 2.3-2.8 mm wide, 5.2 whorlsWhorls:
Pleural of whorl. A whorl is a complete spiral turn/growth of the shell of a mollusc. The whorls are counted from the apex outwards.

E. chersinus: 2.35 mm high, 2.5 mm wide, 6.6 whorls

E. dentatus: 2.75 mm high, 2.5 mm wide, 6.9 whorls

E. fulvus: 3.2 mm high, 3.4 mm wide, 6.5 whorls

E. polygyratus: 2.4 mm high, 2.75 mm wide, 6.8 whorls

E. trochulus: 2.4 mm high, 2.45 mm wide, 5.9 whorlsWhorls:
Pleural of whorl. A whorl is a complete spiral turn/growth of the shell of a mollusc. The whorls are counted from the apex outwards.

Native range

Holarctic

Distribution

North America:

• U.S.: Central and Eastern
• Canada

Europe

Australasia: New Zealand

Ecology

This snail genus inhabits cool, calcareousCalcareous:
Consisting of limestone or calcium carbonate.
wetlands, lowland conifer, coastal dune/beaches or grassy meadows. E. alderi is a protected species in Michigan.

References

Grimm 2009; Forsyth 2004; Kerney et al. 1979; Michigan Natural Features Inventory 2007; Perez and Cordeiro 2008