The Biodiversity of Richmond, British Columbia
Land Snails and Slugs *
compiled by Rose Klinkenberg, 2008
Giant Gardensnail (Limax maximus) (right), and Three-band Gardensnail (Lehmannia valentiana) (left)
in Richmond, photo by Brian Klinkenberg (ID by Robert Forsyth).
The land snails and slugs of Richmond have not been formally studied. However, the incidental observations below show that this faunal group is represented by both native and alien species, with alien species predominating. In gardens, the most common snail encountered is the introduced Grovesnail, while slug species are variable. The native Pacific Bananslug is seen as often as the introduced Giant Gardensail. Further work in the remaining natural areas of Richmond, especially the smaller islands, is needed in order to assess the land snail fauna, and particularly the native snail fauna.
Family |
Species |
Common Name |
Comment |
Arionidae |
Arion rufus (Linnaeus, 1758) |
Chocolate Arion |
introduced |
|
Arion hortensis (Férussac 1819) species group |
Garden Arion (slug) |
introduced |
|
Ariolimax columbianus (Gould in A. Binney, 1851) |
Pacific Bananaslug |
native |
Haplotrematidae |
Haplotrema vancouverense (I. Lea, 1839) |
Robust Lancetooth (snail) |
native |
Helicidae |
Cepaea nemoralis (Linnaeus, 1758) |
Grovesnail |
introduced |
Limacidae |
Derocerus reticulatum (Müller, 1774) |
Grey Fieldslug |
introduced |
| |
Lehmannia valentiana Ferussac in Ferussac 7 DesHaye, 1822 |
Three-band Gardenslug |
introduced |
| |
Limax maximus Linnaeus 1758: |
Giant Gardenslug |
|
Polygyridae |
Vespericola columbianus (I. Lea, 1839) |
Northwest Oregonian (snail) |
native |
Punctidae |
Punctum randolphii (Dall, 1895) |
Conical Spot (snail) |
native |
Pristilomatidae |
Vitrea contracta (Westerlund, 1871) |
Contracted Glass-snail |
introduced |
| |
|
|
|
All identifications by Robert Forsyth.
Sources:
Klinkenberg, Rose, and Neil Davis. 2008. Biophysical Inventory and Evaluation of the Lulu Island Bog, Richmond, BC. Richmond Nature Park Society, Richmond.
Klinkenberg, Rose and Brian Klinkenberg, personal observation, photo documentation.
Key Links:
Mollus.ca
E-Fauna BC Land Snails and Slugs (Robert Forsyth)
Important References:
Forsyth, R.G. 2004b. Land Snails of British Columbia. Royal British Columbia Museum Handbook. Royal BC Museum, Victoria.
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