List of non-marine molluscs of Dominica

The non-marine molluscs of Dominica are species of land and freshwater

Freshwater

Fresh water is naturally occurring water on the Earth's surface in ice sheets, ice caps, glaciers, bogs, ponds, lakes, rivers and streams, and underground as groundwater in aquifers and underground streams. Fresh water is generally characterized by having low concentrations of dissolved salts and...

molluscs, i.e. land snail

Land snail

A land snail is any of the many species of snail that live on land, as opposed to those that live in salt water and fresh water. Land snails are terrestrial gastropod mollusks that have shells, It is not always an easy matter to say which species are terrestrial, because some are more or less...

s, land slug

Slug

Slug is a common name that is normally applied to any gastropod mollusc that lacks a shell, has a very reduced shell, or has a small internal shell...

s and one small freshwater clam

Clam

The word "clam" can be applied to freshwater mussels, and other freshwater bivalves, as well as marine bivalves.In the United States, "clam" can be used in several different ways: one, as a general term covering all bivalve molluscs...

that are part of the wildlife of Dominica

Wildlife of Dominica

There are numerous species of plants and animals on the island of Dominica. Some of these are island endemics, while others are found on other Caribbean islands; some are found on the mainland.-Animals:...

, an island in the Lesser Antilles

Lesser Antilles

The Lesser Antilles are a long, partly volcanic island arc in the Western Hemisphere. Most of its islands form the eastern boundary of the Caribbean Sea with the Atlantic Ocean, with the remainder located in the southern Caribbean just north of South America...

. In malacology

Malacology

Malacology is the branch of invertebrate zoology which deals with the study of the Mollusca , the second-largest phylum of animals in terms of described species after the arthropods. Mollusks include snails and slugs, clams, octopus and squid, and numerous other kinds, many of which have shells...

, the non-marine molluscs of an area are traditionally listed separately from the marine molluscs (those molluscs that live in full-salinity saltwater).

Dominica

Dominica

Dominica , officially the Commonwealth of Dominica, is an island nation in the Lesser Antilles region of the Caribbean Sea, south-southeast of Guadeloupe and northwest of Martinique. Its size is and the highest point in the country is Morne Diablotins, which has an elevation of . The Commonwealth...

is a Caribbean

Caribbean

The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...

island, part of the Windward Island

Windward Islands

The Windward Islands are the southern islands of the Lesser Antilles, within the West Indies.-Name and geography:The Windward Islands are called such because they were more windward to sailing ships arriving in the New World than the Leeward Islands, given that the prevailing trade winds in the...

chain of the Lesser Antilles

Lesser Antilles

. Fifty-five species of non-marine molluscs have been found in the wild in Dominica, including sixteen endemic species of land snail

Land snail

s, species which occur nowhere else on Earth.

Dominica is a mountainous, 750 square kilometre, volcanic, tropical island. It is undeveloped compared with most other Caribbean islands, and it is known for its wildlife and unspoiled natural landscapes. The rugged terrain includes a great deal of tropical rainforest

Rainforest

Rainforests are forests characterized by high rainfall, with definitions based on a minimum normal annual rainfall of 1750-2000 mm...

, numerous rivers, and several officially protected areas, including Morne Trois Pitons National Park

Morne Trois Pitons National Park

Morne Trois Pitons National Park is a World Heritage Site located in the Caribbean island of Dominica. This area was established as a national park by the Dominican government in July 1975, the first to be legally established in the country...

and Cabrits National Park

Cabrits National Park

Cabrits National Park is on a peninsula at the north end of the Caribbean island of Dominica, north of Portsmouth. The park protects tropical forest, coral reefs and wetlands. There are hiking trails and an English garrison called Fort Shirley. Cabrits National Park occupies 1,313 acres and was...

. The rich natural landscapes of Dominica provide suitable habitat for a wide range of different species of wildlife, including many rarities, and a relatively large number of species of non-marine molluscs, both native and introduced.

Living in the wild in Dominica there are 54 species of gastropods

Gastropoda

The Gastropoda or gastropods, more commonly known as snails and slugs, are a large taxonomic class within the phylum Mollusca. The class Gastropoda includes snails and slugs of all kinds and all sizes from microscopic to quite large...

, (11 species of freshwater gastropods including 2 neritids

Neritidae

Neritidae, common name the nerites, is a taxonomic family of small to medium-sized saltwater and freshwater snails which have a gill and a distinctive operculum, marine, brackish water and freshwater gastropod mollusks in the order Neritoida....

that live in brackish water

Brackish water

Brackish water is water that has more salinity than fresh water, but not as much as seawater. It may result from mixing of seawater with fresh water, as in estuaries, or it may occur in brackish fossil aquifers. The word comes from the Middle Dutch root "brak," meaning "salty"...

, 43 species of land gastropods) and 1 species of freshwater bivalve

Freshwater bivalve

Freshwater bivalves are one kind of freshwater molluscs. They are bivalves which live in freshwater, as opposed to saltwater. Although the majority of species of bivalve molluscs live in the sea, a number of different families of bivalves live in freshwater...

Summary table of number of species:
Numbers of molluscs by habitat	Number of species
Freshwater gastropods	11 (7 + 4)
Land gastropods	43 (42 + 1)
Total number of non-marine gastropods	54
Freshwater bivalves	1
Total number of non-marine molluscs	55

History of surveys of land gastropods

The first records of land gastropods from Dominica were published by the English naturalist Robert John Lechmere Guppy

Robert John Lechmere Guppy

Robert John Lechmere Guppy was a British-born naturalist after whom the guppy is named...

in 1868. During his visit (a vacation which he turned into an active malacological field trip) Guppy collected a total of 20 species from Dominica. Out of these twenty, he described 9 as new species.

Subsequently, additional records were added by Thomas B. Bland (1869), A. D. Brown (1881), George French Angas

George French Angas

George French Angas , was an English explorer, naturalist and painter.He was born in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, the eldest son of George Fife Angas, prominent in the establishment of the new colony of South Australia. Despite showing remarkable talent in drawing, he was placed in a London...

(1884), Edgar Albert Smith

Edgar Albert Smith

Edgar Albert Smith was a British zoologist, a malacologist.His father was the Frederick Smith, a well-known entomologist, and Assistant Keeper of Zoology in the British Museum, Bloomsbury...

(1888, 1888) and Henry Augustus Pilsbry

Henry Augustus Pilsbry

Henry Augustus Pilsbry was an American biologist, malacologist and carcinologist, among other areas of study. He was a dominant presence in many fields of invertebrate taxonomy for the better part of a century...

(1892). Four surveys of the terrestrial malacofauna were carried out in the 2000s: 2001 (Ramnath), 2003, 2005 (Robinson, Fields & Zimmerman) and 2008 (Hovestadt). These studies were summarized in 2009.

Land gastropods overview

The list of Dominican land gastropods contains 43 species, making it one of the richest known faunas of land snails and slugs in the Lesser Antilles

Lesser Antilles

.

Of these, 16 species (38%) are endemic to the island. The endemic species of Dominican gastropods are mainly found on the leeward (or Caribbean Sea) side of the island. Amphibulima pardalina
Amphibulima pardalina
Amphibulima pardalina is a species of tropical air-breathing land snail, a pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the subfamily Amphibuliminae.- Distribution :Amphibulima pardalina is endemic to Dominica...

, Diplopoma
Diplopoma
Diplopoma is a genus of operculate land snails, terrestrial gastropod mollusks gastropod in the family Pomatiidae.-Species:Species within the genus Diplopoma include:* Diplopoma crenulatum...

sp., Laevaricella perlucens
Laevaricella perlucens
Laevaricella perlucens is a species of tropical, air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Oleacinidae.- Distribution :Laevaricella perlucens is endemic to Dominica...

, Naesiotus stenogyroides
Naesiotus stenogyroides
Naesiotus stenogyroides is a species of tropical air-breathing land snail, a pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Orthalicidae.- Distribution :Naesiotus stenogyroides is endemic to Dominica. It is restricted to higher localities...

and Veronicella
Veronicella
Veronicella is a genus of air-breathing land slugs, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Veronicellidae.- Species:Species within the genus Veronicella include:* Veronicella cubensis...

sp. are very restricted in range, and probably meet the IUCN-criteria for Critically Endangered

Critically Endangered

Critically Endangered is the highest risk category assigned by the IUCN Red List for wild species. Critically Endangered means that a species' numbers have decreased, or will decrease, by 80% within three generations....

species. Amphibulima browni
Amphibulima browni
Amphibulima browni is a species of air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Orthalicidae.This rare tropical land snail is endemic to the West Indian island of Dominica. The snail has been seen only very rarely since it was first discovered in the late 19th...

and Lucidella
Lucidella
Lucidella is a genus of land snails with an operculum, terrestrial gastropod mollusks in the family Helicinidae.-Distribution:Distribution of the genus include Central America and Caribbean:* Dominica - one undescribed species* Jamaica - 12 species...

sp. are likely to meet the criteria for being listed as endangered species

Endangered species

An endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters...

.

There are striking faunal relationships with the islands of Guadeloupe

Guadeloupe

Guadeloupe is an archipelago located in the Leeward Islands, in the Lesser Antilles, with a land area of 1,628 square kilometres and a population of 400,000. It is the first overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department. As with the other overseas departments, Guadeloupe...

and Martinique

Martinique

Martinique is an island in the eastern Caribbean Sea, with a land area of . Like Guadeloupe, it is an overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department. To the northwest lies Dominica, to the south St Lucia, and to the southeast Barbados...

. Furthermore, 9 of the species (21%) are widespread, and 13 species are considered to have been introduced into Dominica.

The landsnail fauna can be analyzed according to the elevation

Elevation

The elevation of a geographic location is its height above a fixed reference point, most commonly a reference geoid, a mathematical model of the Earth's sea level as an equipotential gravitational surface ....

al range of the species. There is a distinction between the windward (east) and leeward (west) side of the island, according to the parishes in which the localities are situated. While most species exhibit a rather wide elevational range, several are restricted in this respect. Very few species only occur at lower elevations: Diplopoma, Allopeas, Beckianum and Huttonella species. These taxa are largely introduced species. More interestingly, some species are restricted to higher localities: Lucidella
Lucidella
Lucidella is a genus of land snails with an operculum, terrestrial gastropod mollusks in the family Helicinidae.-Distribution:Distribution of the genus include Central America and Caribbean:* Dominica - one undescribed species* Jamaica - 12 species...

sp., veronicellids (except the introduced Veronicella cubensis
Veronicella cubensis
Veronicella cubensis, common name the Cuban slug, is a species of air-breathing land slug, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Veronicellidae, the leatherleaf slugs.-Distribution:* Cuba* non indigenous in California...

and Veronicella sloanei
Veronicella sloanei
Veronicella sloanei, common name the Pancake Slug, is a species of air-breathing land slug, a terrestrial, pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Veronicellidae, the leatherleaf slugs.- Description :...

), Naesiotus stenogyroides
Naesiotus stenogyroides
Naesiotus stenogyroides is a species of tropical air-breathing land snail, a pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Orthalicidae.- Distribution :Naesiotus stenogyroides is endemic to Dominica. It is restricted to higher localities...

, Amphibulima pardalina
Amphibulima pardalina
Amphibulima pardalina is a species of tropical air-breathing land snail, a pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the subfamily Amphibuliminae.- Distribution :Amphibulima pardalina is endemic to Dominica...

and Laevaricella perlucens
Laevaricella perlucens
Laevaricella perlucens is a species of tropical, air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Oleacinidae.- Distribution :Laevaricella perlucens is endemic to Dominica...

. These do not occur, however, on the upper slopes of the higher peaks, but seem to be restricted to the hygrophytic vegetation zone, i.e. the cloud forest

Cloud forest

A cloud forest, also called a fog forest, is a generally tropical or subtropical evergreen montane moist forest characterized by a persistent, frequent or seasonal low-level cloud cover, usually at the canopy level. Cloud forests often exhibit an abundance of mosses covering the ground and...

.

Many localities have a rather low species richness

Species richness

Species richness is the number of different species in a given area. It is represented in equation form as S.Species richness is the fundamental unit in which to assess the homogeneity of an environment. Typically, species richness is used in conservation studies to determine the sensitivity of...

. For example, in surveys from 2001–2008, at six localities no snails were encountered; at the remaining 64, species richness ranged from 1 to 17 (mean 4.54). Taking into account the rareness of species, the southeast of the island scores well when the total diversity

Biodiversity

Biodiversity is the degree of variation of life forms within a given ecosystem, biome, or an entire planet. Biodiversity is a measure of the health of ecosystems. Biodiversity is in part a function of climate. In terrestrial habitats, tropical regions are typically rich whereas polar regions...

is considered.

The area of Freshwater Lake in Morne Trois Pitons National Park

Morne Trois Pitons National Park

is a biodiversity hotspot

Biodiversity hotspot

A biodiversity hotspot is a biogeographic region with a significant reservoir of biodiversity that is under threat from humans.The concept of biodiversity hotspots was originated by Norman Myers in two articles in “The Environmentalist” , revised after thorough analysis by Myers and others in...

for land snails. However, several other localities situated in the national parks are also important areas for the occurrence of endemic species: the Syndicate Parrot Preserve and the Lake Boeri area. These national parks lie on the leeward side of the island at relatively high elevations (above 600 m).

Freshwater gastropods

The systematic list uses scientific names including the authority

Author citation (zoology)

In zoological nomenclature, author citation refers to listing the person who first makes a scientific name of a taxon available. This is done in a scientific publication while fulfilling the formal requirements under the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, hereinafter termed "the Code"...

, and is arranged according to families

Family (biology)

In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...

:

Neritidae

Neritidae

Neritina punctulata
Neritina punctulata
Neritina punctulata is a species of freshwater snail with an operculum, an aquatic gastropod mollusk in the family Neritidae, the nerites.- Distribution :Distribution of Neritina punctulata include:* Puerto Rico* Dominica- Ecology :...

(Lamarck, 1816) – Native.
Neritina virginea
Neritina virginea
Neritina virginea is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Neritidae.-Distribution:This species occurs in the brackish waters on the West Indian island of Dominica....

(Linnaeus, 1758) – In brackish water
Brackish water
Brackish water is water that has more salinity than fresh water, but not as much as seawater. It may result from mixing of seawater with fresh water, as in estuaries, or it may occur in brackish fossil aquifers. The word comes from the Middle Dutch root "brak," meaning "salty"...

.
Puperita pupa
Puperita pupa
Puperita pupa is a species of small sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Neritidae, the nerites.-Distribution:The distribution of Puperita pupa includes:* Caribbean Sea* Cayman Islands* Colombia* Costa Rica* Cuba...

(Linnaeus, 1758) – In brackish water.

Planorbidae

Planorbidae, common name the ramshorn snails or ram's horn snails, is a family of air-breathing freshwater snails, aquatic pulmonate gastropod mollusks....

Biomphalaria glabrata
Biomphalaria glabrata
Biomphalaria glabrata is a species of air-breathing freshwater snail, an aquatic pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Planorbidae, the ram's horn snails....

(Say, 1818) – This species was reported from Dominica in 1980, but it seems that it was replaced by other Biomphalaria species, or it was eradicated (it was not found by Noblet & Damian (1991) nor by Reeves et al. (2008)).
Biomphalaria kuhniana
Biomphalaria kuhniana
Biomphalaria andecola is a species of air-breathing freshwater snail, an aquatic pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Planorbidae, the ram's horn snails.- Shell description :All species within the family Planorbidae have sinistral shells....

(Clessin, 1883) – Previous reports of Biomphalaria straminea
Biomphalaria straminea
Biomphalaria straminea is a species of air-breathing freshwater snail, an aquatic pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Planorbidae, the ram's horn snails....

were probably Biomphalaria kuhniana.
Gundlachia radiata
Gundlachia radiata
Gundlachia radiata is a species of minute freshwater snail or limpet, an aquatic pulmonate gastropod mollusk or micromollusk in the family Planorbidae.- Distribution :This species occurs on the West Indian island of Dominica....

(Guilding, 1828) – First recorded in 2008.
Helisoma trivolvis (Say, 1817) – Introduced.

Thiaridae

Thiaridae, common name thiarids, is a family of tropical freshwater snails with an operculum, aquatic gastropod mollusks in the superfamily Cerithioidea....

Melanoides tuberculata (Müller, 1774) – Introduced. Its initial introduction to Dominica was probably around 1975. Previous reports of Tarebia granifera
Tarebia granifera
Tarebia granifera, common name in the aquarium industry the quilted melania, is a species of freshwater snail with an operculum, an aquatic gastropod mollusk in the family Thiaridae...

from Freshwater Lake
Freshwater Lake
Freshwater Lake is a lake of Victoria County, in north-eastern Nova Scotia, Canada.-References:*...

in Dominica were probably large Melanoides tuberculata. (However, it may be possible to find Tarebia granifera on Dominica; this species does occur on the nearby island of Martinique.)

Physidae

Physidae, common name bladder snails, are a monophyletic taxonomic family of small freshwater snails, aquatic pulmonate gastropod molluscs in the clade Hygrophila....

Physa marmorata
Physa marmorata
Physa marmorata is a species of freshwater snail, a gastropod in the Physidae family.- Further reading :* Appleton C. C. & Dana P. . "Re-examination of Physa mosambiquensis Clessin, 1886 and its relationship with other Aplexinae reported from Africa". African Invertebrates 46: 71-83....

(Guilding, 1828) – Previous reports of Physa cubensis = Physa acuta from Dominica were probably Physa marmorata.

Neritiliidae

Neritiliidae is a family of submarine cave snails, marine gastropod mollusks or micromollusks in the clade Cycloneritimorpha...

Neritilia succinea
Neritilia succinea
Neritilia succinea is a species of submarine cave snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Neritiliidae.-Distribution:This species fas found on the riverbank on the West Indian island of Dominica....

(Récluz, 1841) – On a riverbank.

Ampullariidae

Ampullariidae, common name the apple snails, is a family of large freshwater snails, aquatic gastropod mollusks with a gill and an operculum...

Pomacea glauca
Pomacea glauca
Pomacea glauca is a species of freshwater gastropod in the family Ampullariidae.The species varies greatly in color, shape and size, growing to around 70 mm...

(Linnaeus, 1758) – Native.

Land gastropods

Helicinidae

Helicinidae is a family of small tropical land snails which have an operculum. They are terrestrial operculate gastropod mollusks in the superfamily Helicinoidea....

Helicina fasciata
Helicina fasciata
Helicina fasciata is a species of tropical land snail with an operculum, a terrestrial gastropod mollusk in the family Helicinidae.-Distribution:This species is lives in Lesser Antilles....

(Lamarck, 1822) – First reported in 2009.
Helicina guppyi
Helicina guppyi
Helicina guppyi is a species of tropical land snail with an operculum, a terrestrial gastropod mollusk in the family Helicinidae.- Shell description :...

Pease, 1871 – First reported in 2009.
Helicina platychila
Helicina platychila
Helicina platychila is a species of tropical land snail with an operculum, a terrestrial gastropod mollusk in the family Helicinidae.The description of Helicina epistilia Guppy, 1868 matches this species, and these names are therefore considered synonyms.- Shell description :As in many helicinid...

(Megerle von Mühlfeld, 1824) – First reported in 2009.
Helicina rhodostoma
Helicina rhodostoma
Helicina rhodostoma is a species of tropical land snail with an operculum, a terrestrial gastropod mollusk in the family Helicinidae.- Shell description :...

Gray, 1824 – Endemic.
Lucidella
Lucidella
Lucidella is a genus of land snails with an operculum, terrestrial gastropod mollusks in the family Helicinidae.-Distribution:Distribution of the genus include Central America and Caribbean:* Dominica - one undescribed species* Jamaica - 12 species...

sp. – Endemic. Synonym: Helicina plicatula Guppy, 1868. First reported in 2009. This species lives in moist leaf litter or on ferns in undisturbed forested areas of the island. Although Robert John Lechmere Guppy
Robert John Lechmere Guppy
Robert John Lechmere Guppy was a British-born naturalist after whom the guppy is named...

(1868) reported the Lesser Antillean Lucidella plicatula
Lucidella plicatula
Lucidella plicatula is a species of land snail with an operculum, terrestrial gastropod mollusk in the family Helicinidae....

from Dominica, no evidence was found of the occurrence of that species. The endemic Dominican Lucidella is considerably larger and differs in sculptural
Sculpture (mollusc)
The sculpture of a mollusc shell is the three-dimensional ornamentation on the outer surface, as distinct from the basic shape of the shell itself or colouration. Sculpture may be concave as well as convex. Sometimes it has microscopic detail. Sculpture refers to the calcareous outer layer, not the...

details. Like many helicinid species, there are red and yellow colour morphs. Further research is required to establish the taxonomic position of these specimens.
Alcadia conuloides
Alcadia conuloides
Alcadia conuloides is a species of tropical land snail with an operculum, a terrestrial gastropod mollusk in the family Helicinidae.- Taxonomy :...

(Guppy, 1868) – Endemic.

Neocyclotidae

Neocyclotidae is a family of tropical land snails with gills and an operculum, terrestrial gastropod mollusks in the informal group Architaenioglossa belonging to the clade Caenogastropoda .-Subfamilies:Subfamilies within the family Neocyclotidae include:* subfamily Neocyclotinae Kobelt &...

Amphicyclotulus amethystinus
Amphicyclotulus amethystinus
Amphicyclotulus amethystinus is a species of tropical land snail with a gill and an operculum, a terrestrial gastropod mollusk in the family Neocyclotidae.- Shell description :...

(Guppy, 1868) – Endemic.
Amphicyclotulus dominicensis
Amphicyclotulus dominicensis
Amphicyclotulus dominicensis is a species of tropical land snail with a gill and an operculum, a terrestrial gastropod mollusk in the family Neocyclotidae.-Distribution:This species is endemic to the West Indian island of Dominica....

Bartsch, 1942 – Endemic.

Pomatiidae

The family Pomatiidae is a taxonomic family of small operculate land snails, terrestrial gastropod mollusks that can be found over the warmer parts of the Old World. In the older literature, this family is designated as Pomatiasidae....

Diplopoma
Diplopoma
Diplopoma is a genus of operculate land snails, terrestrial gastropod mollusks gastropod in the family Pomatiidae.-Species:Species within the genus Diplopoma include:* Diplopoma crenulatum...

sp. – Endemic. A snail in the family Pomatiidae was first reported from Dominica in 2009. Most members of this family – and certainly of this genus – typically are obligate calciphiles, occurring only when the substrate contains high levels of environmental calcium carbonate
Calcium carbonate
Calcium carbonate is a chemical compound with the formula CaCO3. It is a common substance found in rocks in all parts of the world, and is the main component of shells of marine organisms, snails, coal balls, pearls, and eggshells. Calcium carbonate is the active ingredient in agricultural lime,...

. Therefore the occurrence of this species on the island was unexpected. It closely resembles Diplopoma crenulatum
Diplopoma crenulatum
Diplopoma crenulatum is a species of operculate land snail, terrestrial gastropod mollusk gastropod in the family Pomatiidae.-Distribution:Distribution of Diplopoma crenulatum include:* Guadeloupe - Diplopoma crenulatum crenulatum...

crenulatum (Potiez & Michaud, 1835), which occurs in Guadeloupe
Guadeloupe
Guadeloupe is an archipelago located in the Leeward Islands, in the Lesser Antilles, with a land area of 1,628 square kilometres and a population of 400,000. It is the first overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department. As with the other overseas departments, Guadeloupe...

, Marie-Galante
Marie-Galante
Marie-Galante is an island of the Caribbean Sea located at the south of Guadeloupe and at north of Dominica. Marie-Galante is a dependence of Guadeloupe which is a french overseas department....

and La Désirade
La Désirade
La Désirade is a French West Indies island located at the eastern of Guadeloupe, in the Lesser Antilles.It has a land area of 20.64 km² and a population of 1,595 in 2006 , with a population density of 77 inh. per km² in 2006...

. This species may have been introduced from one of those islands when the British and French struggled for possession of Dominica, at the end of the 18th century. The taxon appears to be restricted to the battlements of Fort Shirley
Fort Shirley
Fort Shirley was a fort erected by the Province of Pennsylvania during the French and Indian War.-History:During the mid-1750s, the mountainous ridges and valleys of south central Pennsylvania were an important theater for colliding European and Native American cultures...

at Cabrits Point
Cabrits National Park
Cabrits National Park is on a peninsula at the north end of the Caribbean island of Dominica, north of Portsmouth. The park protects tropical forest, coral reefs and wetlands. There are hiking trails and an English garrison called Fort Shirley. Cabrits National Park occupies 1,313 acres and was...

. The Dominican specimens differ from those of Guadeloupe in having weaker sutural crenulation and in some other minor details. Further research is required in order to establish the taxonomic position of these specimens.

Veronicellidae

The Veronicellidae, common name the leatherleaf slugs, are a terrestrial family of pulmonate slugs.This family has no subfamilies ....

Diplosolenodes occidentalis (Guilding, 1825) – First recorded in 1884, then in 1892
Sarasinula plebeia
Sarasinula plebeia
Sarasinula plebeia, common name the bean slug, is a species of air-breathing land slug, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Veronicellidae, the leatherleaf slugs.-Distribution:...

(Fischer, 1868) – First reported in 2009.
Sarasinula marginata
Sarasinula marginata
Sarasinula marginata is a species of air-breathing land slug, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Veronicellidae, the leatherleaf slugs.- Description :...

(Semper, 1885) – First reported in 2009.
Veronicella cubensis
Veronicella cubensis
Veronicella cubensis, common name the Cuban slug, is a species of air-breathing land slug, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Veronicellidae, the leatherleaf slugs.-Distribution:* Cuba* non indigenous in California...

(L. Pfeiffer, 1840) – Introduced.
Veronicella aff. floridana (Leidy, 1868) – Introduced. Superficially similar to Veronicella cubensis
Veronicella cubensis
Veronicella cubensis, common name the Cuban slug, is a species of air-breathing land slug, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Veronicellidae, the leatherleaf slugs.-Distribution:* Cuba* non indigenous in California...

, it can be distinguished principally by differences in the male genitalia.
Veronicella sloanei
Veronicella sloanei
Veronicella sloanei, common name the Pancake Slug, is a species of air-breathing land slug, a terrestrial, pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Veronicellidae, the leatherleaf slugs.- Description :...

(Cuvier, 1817) – Introduced. First reported in 2009.
Veronicella
Veronicella
Veronicella is a genus of air-breathing land slugs, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Veronicellidae.- Species:Species within the genus Veronicella include:* Veronicella cubensis...

sp. – Endemic. First reported in 2009. A single specimen was found, in which the genitalia
Reproductive system of gastropods
The reproductive system of gastropods varies greatly from one group to another within this very large and diverse taxonomic class of animals...

do not match those of any known species. Molecular analysis
Genetic analysis
Genetic analysis can be used generally to describe methods both used in and resulting from the sciences of genetics and molecular biology, or to applications resulting from this research....

shows that it is related to Veronicella portoricensis
Veronicella portoricensis
Veronicella portoricensis is a species of air-breathing land slug, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Veronicellidae, the leatherleaf slugs.-Distribution:This species occurs in:* Highland rainforests of Puerto Rico...

(Semper, 1886) from the highland rainforests of Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...

. It will be described in a forthcoming paper (Robinson, Barr & Fields, in preparation).

Succineidae

Succineidae are a family of small to medium-sized, air-breathing, land snails , terrestrial pulmonate gastropod molluscs. They are commonly called amber snails because their thin fragile shells are translucent and amber-colored...

Succinea
Succinea
Succinea, common name amber snails, is a genus of small, air-breathing, land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod molluscs in the family Succineidae.They usually live in damp habitats such as marshes.-Species:...

sp. – Endemic. First reported in 2009. Because West Indian succineid taxonomy is in complete disarray, Robinson et al. (2009) simply placed this material in the genus Succinea, pending a comprehensive study of this poorly understood group. More than one Succinea species appears to be present in Dominica.
Omalonyx matheroni
Omalonyx matheroni
Omalonyx matheroni is a species of air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusc in the family Succineidae, the amber snails.-Distribution:The distribution of Omalonyx matheroni includes:The Lesser Antilles, West Indies:...

(Potiez & Michaud, 1838) – Introduced. There are slight differences in the mantle
Mantle (mollusc)
The mantle is a significant part of the anatomy of molluscs: it is the dorsal body wall which covers the visceral mass and usually protrudes in the form of flaps well beyond the visceral mass itself.In many, but by no means all, species of molluscs, the epidermis of the mantle secretes...

pattern (often a diagnostic feature in some succineids) compared to typical Omalonyx matheroni. Further work is needed to establish the taxonomic position of this material from Dominica.
Omalonyx unguis (d’Orbigny, 1837) – This species was reported by the Austrian-French Hydrobiological Mission in 1979, but see also comments to Omalonyx matheroni above.

Subulinidae

Subulinidae is a family of small tropical air-breathing land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the superfamily Achatinoidea.- Anatomy :...

Allopeas gracile
Allopeas gracile
Allopeas gracile, common name the graceful awlsnail, is a species of small, tropical, air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Subulinidae.- Distribution :...

(Hutton, 1834) – Introduced. First reported in 2009.
Allopeas micra
Allopeas micra
Allopeas micra is a species of small, tropical, air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Subulinidae.- Distribution :The distribution of Allopeas micra includes:* West Indies* from Mexico to Bolivia...

(d’Orbigny, 1835) – Introduced. First reported in 2009.
Beckianum beckianum
Beckianum beckianum
Beckianum beckianum is a species of air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Subulinidae.- Subspecies :Subspecies of Beckianum beckianum include:* Beckianum beckianum beckianum Beckianum beckianum is a species of air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial...

(L. Pfeiffer, 1846) – Introduced. First reported in 2009.
Leptinaria unilamellata
Leptinaria unilamellata
Leptinaria unilamellata is a species of tropical, air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Subulinidae.- Distribution :Leptinaria unilamellata is a widespread species throughout the Caribbean Basin....

(d’Orbigny, 1837) – Introduced.
Subulina octona
Subulina octona
Subulina octona is a species of small, tropical, air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Subulinidae.- Distribution :The native distribution of this species includes:* Caribbean* Cuba...

(Bruguière, 1789) – Introduced.

Streptaxidae

Streptaxidae is a family of air-breathing land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in theStylommatophora. Six Streptaxidae subfamilies are accepted in the 2005 taxonomy of the Gastropoda by Bouchet & Rocroi....

Streptartemon glaber
Streptartemon glaber
Streptartemon glaber is a species of air-breathing land snail, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Streptaxidae.- Distribution :The distribution of Streptartemon glaber include:* Puerto Rico* U.S...

(L. Pfeiffer, 1849) – First reported in 2009.
Huttonella bicolor
Huttonella bicolor
Huttonella bicolor is a species of small air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Streptaxidae.- Distribution :The historical area of origin of Huttonella bicolor is unknown...

(Hutton, 1834) – Introduced. First reported in 2009.
Streptostele musaecola
Streptostele musaecola
Streptostele musaecola is a species of small air-breathing land snail, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Streptaxidae.- Distribution :The indigenous distribution of Streptostele musaecola includes:* West Africa...

(Morelet, 1860) – Introduced. First reported in 2009.

Orthalicidae

Orthalicidae are a family of tropical air-breathing land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks are classified in the informal group Sigmurethra of the clade Stylommatophora...

Bulimulus diaphanus
Bulimulus diaphanus
Bulimulus diaphanus is a species of tropical air-breathing land snail, a pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the subfamily Bulimulinae.- Distribution :Distribution of Bulimulus diaphanus fraterculus include Lesser Antilles:* Saint Martin...

fraterculus (Potiez & Michaud, 1835) – First reported in 2009. It is possible that it was introduced from one of the more northerly islands, where it was listed by Breure (1974).
Bulimulus guadalupensis
Bulimulus guadalupensis
Bulimulus guadalupensis is a species of tropical air-breathing land snail, a pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the subfamily Bulimulinae.The specific name guadalupensis refers to the West Indian island of Guadeloupe.- Distribution :...

(Bruguière, 1789) – Introduced.
Bulimulus limnoides
Bulimulus limnoides
Bulimulus limnoides is a species of tropical air-breathing land snail, a pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the subfamily Bulimulinae.- Distribution :Distribution of Bulimulus limnoides include:* Guadeloupe...

(Férussac, 1832) – First reported in 2009.
Drymaeus laticinctus
Drymaeus laticinctus
Drymaeus laticinctus is a species of tropical air-breathing land snail, a pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Orthalicidae.- Distribution :...

(Guppy, 1868) – Endemic.
Naesiotus stenogyroides
Naesiotus stenogyroides
Naesiotus stenogyroides is a species of tropical air-breathing land snail, a pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Orthalicidae.- Distribution :Naesiotus stenogyroides is endemic to Dominica. It is restricted to higher localities...

(Guppy, 1868) – Endemic.
Amphibulima patula
Amphibulima patula
Amphibulima patula is a species of air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Orthalicidae.- Subspecies :Subspecies of Amphibulima patula include:* Amphibulima patula patula...

dominicensis Pilsbry, 1899 – Endemic.
Amphibulima pardalina
Amphibulima pardalina
Amphibulima pardalina is a species of tropical air-breathing land snail, a pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the subfamily Amphibuliminae.- Distribution :Amphibulima pardalina is endemic to Dominica...

Guppy, 1868 – Endemic.
Amphibulima browni
Amphibulima browni
Amphibulima browni is a species of air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Orthalicidae.This rare tropical land snail is endemic to the West Indian island of Dominica. The snail has been seen only very rarely since it was first discovered in the late 19th...

Pilsbry, 1899 – Endemic.

Oleacinidae

Oleacinidae is a family of air-breathing land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the clade Eupulmonata .-Anatomy:...

Laevaricella perlucens
Laevaricella perlucens
Laevaricella perlucens is a species of tropical, air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Oleacinidae.- Distribution :Laevaricella perlucens is endemic to Dominica...

(Guppy, 1868) – Endemic.

Scolodontidae

Scolodontidae is a taxonomic family of air-breathing land snails, terrestrial pulmonategastropod mollusks in the superfamily Rhytidoidea .-Taxonomy:...

Tamayoa decolorata
Tamayoa decolorata
Tamayoa decolorata is a species of air-breathing land snail,a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Scolodontidae.- Distribution :The distribution of Tamayoa decolorata includes:* Jamaica* Guadeloupe...

(Drouët, 1859) – This species is probably an introduced one, as it was found only in disturbed habitats.

Haplotrematidae

Haplotrematidae is a taxonomic family of predatory air-breathing land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the superfamily Rhytidoidea.-Distribution:These are North American land snails...

Zophos
Zophos
Zophos is a genus of air-breathing land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Haplotrematidae.- Species :Species within the genus Zophos include:* Zophos baudoni * Zophos concolor Férussac...

cf. baudoni
Zophos baudoni
Zophos baudoni is a species of air-breathing land snail, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Haplotrematidae.- Distribution :* Guadeloupe - Zophos baudoni was described by Petit de la Saussaye from Guadeloupe....

(Petit, 1853) – Guppy (1868) expressed some doubts whether the Dominican specimens belonged to this species, which was described by Petit de la Saussaye from Guadeloupe
Guadeloupe
Guadeloupe is an archipelago located in the Leeward Islands, in the Lesser Antilles, with a land area of 1,628 square kilometres and a population of 400,000. It is the first overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department. As with the other overseas departments, Guadeloupe...

. Ramnath & Fields (2002) were of the same opinion, considering it possibly new to science.

Agriolimacidae

Agriolimacidae is a family of small and medium sized land slugs, or shell-less snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks.- Distribution :Distribution of Limacidae is Holarctic, this include: Nearctic, western Palearctic and eastern Palearctic....

Deroceras laeve
Deroceras laeve
Deroceras laeve, the marsh slug, is a species of small air-breathing land slug, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Agriolimacidae.-Distribution:...

(Müller, 1774) – Introduced. First reported in 2009. Although generally associated with cooler climates, it survives on the island at higher altitudes and is locally quite common.

Pleurodontidae

Pleurodontidae is a family of air-breathing land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the superfamily Helicoidea.This family is classified within the clade Stylommatophora within the clade Eupulmonata...

Pleurodonte dentiens
Pleurodonte dentiens
Pleurodonte dentiens is a species of tropical air-breathing land snail, a pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Pleurodontidae.- Distribution :Distribution of Pleurodonte dentiens include:* Guadeloupe* Dominica* Martinique- Ecology :...

(Férussac, 1822) – First reported in 2009.
Pleurodonte guadeloupensis
Pleurodonte guadeloupensis
Pleurodonte guadeloupensis is a species of tropical air-breathing land snail, a pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Pleurodontidae.- Subspecies :...

dominicana Pilsbry & Cockerell, 1937 – This subspecies is endemic to Dominica.
Pleurodonte josephinae
Pleurodonte josephinae
Pleurodonte josephinae is a species of tropical air-breathing land snail, a pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Pleurodontidae.- Distribution :Distribution of Pleurodonte josephinae include:* Saint Kitts* Nevis* Montserrat* Guadeloupe...

(Férussac, 1832) – First reported in 2009.
Pleurodonte nigrescens
Pleurodonte nigrescens
Pleurodonte nigrescens is a species of tropical air-breathing land snail, a pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Pleurodontidae.- Distribution :Distribution of Pleurodonte nigrescens include:* Guadeloupe* Dominica- Distribution :...

(Wood, 1828) – First reported in 2009.

The following species have been reported from Dominica in the literature, but supporting material has not been found. These species, recorded due to inaccuracies of provenance of specimens or misidentifications, should be removed from the faunal list of the island:

Helicina antillarum (G. B. Sowerby, 1842) – The identity of this taxon remains uncertain. Brown’s report (Brown, 1881) might be a misidentification of Helicina guppyi
Helicina guppyi
Helicina guppyi is a species of tropical land snail with an operculum, a terrestrial gastropod mollusk in the family Helicinidae.- Shell description :...

Pease, 1871.
Lucidella plicatula
Lucidella plicatula
Lucidella plicatula is a species of land snail with an operculum, terrestrial gastropod mollusk in the family Helicinidae....

(L. Pfeiffer, 1849) – This helicinid has been reported from throughout the West Indies. However, the Dominican Lucidella is clearly different.
Amphicyclotulus schrammi
Amphicyclotulus schrammi
Amphicyclotulus schrammi is a species of tropical land snail with a gill and an operculum, a terrestrial gastropod mollusk in the family Neocyclotidae....

(Shuttleworth, 1857) – Brown (1881) incorrectly synonymized the Dominican Amphicyclotulus amethystinus
Amphicyclotulus amethystinus
Amphicyclotulus amethystinus is a species of tropical land snail with a gill and an operculum, a terrestrial gastropod mollusk in the family Neocyclotidae.- Shell description :...

with the Guadeloupe taxon.
Succinea approximans
Succinea approximans
Succinea approximans is a species of air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusc in the family Succineidae, the amber snails.- Distribution :...

Shuttleworth, 1854 – This taxon occurs on Puerto Rico and has not been reported from intermediate islands. The reports from Thomas B. Bland (1869) and George French Angas
George French Angas
George French Angas , was an English explorer, naturalist and painter.He was born in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, the eldest son of George Fife Angas, prominent in the establishment of the new colony of South Australia. Despite showing remarkable talent in drawing, he was placed in a London...

(1884) are thus dubious.
Vaginulus buergueri
Vaginulus buergueri
Vaginulus buergueri is a species of land slug, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Veronicellidae....

(Simroth, 1914) – This slug was reported from “Salilia, Dominica” by Forcart (1973). This locality is not known in the island and could not be found in any gazetteer. However, the taxon is reported from the Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...

(Baker, 1925), so confusion seems likely.
Veronicella tenax
Veronicella tenax
Veronicella tenax is a species of air-breathing land slug, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Veronicellidae, the leatherleaf slugs....

H. B. Baker, 1931 – This Cuban endemic species was reported from Dominica by Forcart (1973), based on some specimens that — judging from his descriptions — probably belong to either Veronicella cubensis
Veronicella cubensis
Veronicella cubensis, common name the Cuban slug, is a species of air-breathing land slug, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Veronicellidae, the leatherleaf slugs.-Distribution:* Cuba* non indigenous in California...

or Veronicella floridana.
Drymaeus liliaceus
Drymaeus liliaceus
Drymaeus liliaceus is a species of tropical air-breathing land snail, a pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Orthalicidae.- External links :...

(Férussac, 1821) – This species was reported from Dominica by Angas (1884) and Smith (1888). Férussac’s species is from Puerto Rico and Pilsbry (1899) mentions that he had not seen Dominican specimens. So far, no trace was found of any material that could confirm the presence of this taxon on Dominica. However, the occurrence of a Drymaeus
Drymaeus
Drymaeus is a genus of medium-sized air-breathing, tropical land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod molluscs in the subfamily Bulimulinae and the family Orthalicidae, according to the taxonomy of the Gastropoda ....

species with a “uniform pale primrose colour” from the island should be further investigated.
Drymaeus multifasciatus
Drymaeus multifasciatus
Drymaeus multifasciatus is a species of tropical air-breathing land snail, a pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Orthalicidae.- External links :...

(Lamarck, 1822) – This name was used by several authors for the endemic Dominican species that is here recognized as Drymaeus laticinctus
Drymaeus laticinctus
Drymaeus laticinctus is a species of tropical air-breathing land snail, a pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Orthalicidae.- Distribution :...

(Guppy, 1868).
Amphibulima rubescens
Amphibulima rubescens
Amphibulima rubescens is a species of tropical air-breathing land snail, a pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the subfamily Amphibuliminae.- Distribution :...

(Deshayes, 1830) – This species has been reported by various workers from Guadeloupe, Marie-Galante, Dominica and Martinique. It is assumed now that this taxon is endemic to Martinique and that all other reports are misidentifications.

Freshwater bivalves

Sphaeriidae

The Sphaeriidae are a family of small to minute freshwater bivalve molluscs, in the order Veneroida. In the USA they are commonly known as the pea clams and the fingernail clams.-Genera:Genera in the family Sphaeriidae include:* Musculium...

Pisidium punctiferum
Pisidium punctiferum
Pisidium punctiferum, common name Striate Peaclam, is a freshwater bivalve of the family Sphaeriidae.- Distribution :The type locality is a pond at Saint Ann's River, near Port of Spain, Trinidad. They were collected by the government botanist Mr. H...

(Guppy, 1867) – Up to the 1980s there were no reports of any freshwater bivalves on Dominica. This very small species is the only known freshwater bivalve on Dominica. It was discovered by the Austrian-French Hydrobiological Mission in 1979.

History of surveys of land gastropods

Land gastropods overview

Freshwater gastropods

Land gastropods

Freshwater bivalves

See also

Further reading