Daedalochila sp. aff. hausmani (Jackson, 1948) Straight-edge Liptooth In Duval County

    During a snailing trip on 3/7/2010, super-snailer Brian Marshall discovered a population of small (less than 8 mm.) Daedalochila in the roadside swale on the west side of Imeson Road (GPS: 30.20364N 081.46216W - WGS-84 Datum) in northwestern Duval County. The site is directly across from the north end of the U. S. Postal Service warehouse and 450 yards north of Commonwealth Avenue. During his brief visit he was able to collect 28 specimens. Later the same day this reporter visited the site and collected an additional 52 shells. Over the next two days a more in depth survey of the snail population was conducted and an additional 60 specimens were collected. Interestingly, virtually all the Daedalochila found over the three day period were beneath thistles (Cirsium species). The habitat colonized by the Daedalochila extends north for a distance of about 260 yards to the entrance to the Jacksonville to Baldwin Rail Trail facility. During a visit to the site on 3/9/2010, probable Daedalochila sp. aff. hausmani eggs were found beneath one of the thistles in the roadside swale. During a follow-up visit on 3/17/2010, a living D. sp. aff. hausmani, and several eggs that it had probably deposited, were also discovered beneath a thistle (see image). On March 15, 2013, some three years later, several dozen Daedalochila were found beneath thistles in the roadside swale and again eggs were present. During a return visit to the site on March 18, 2013,  additional eggs were found beneath a thistle (see image). Although these observations indicate that the species deposits it's eggs during late February/early March, it's uncertain what role, if any, that the thistles play in species propogation other than a convenient source of moisture in the sometimes very dry roadside swale.

Daedalochila habitat on the left looking north along Imeson Road

Daedalochila habitat on the left looking north along Imeson Road

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