Daedalochila auriculata (Say, 1818) Ocala Liptooth On Racetrack Road At Durbin Creek

St. Johns County, Florida

   During a field survey on 5/1/2010, land snail enthusiast Brian Marshall discovered a population of Daedalochila auriculata adjacent to the northeast bridge approach to Durbin Creek on Racetrack Road (GPS: 30.05568N 081.31283W - WGS-84 Datum) in extreme northern St. Johns County just south of the Duval County line. During his trip Brian found 13 Dedalochila including a single living specimen. This reporter visited the site the next day and found an additional 11 empty shells. The discovery of the Daedalochila auriculata population at this station is somewhat surprising in that this location has been periodically surveyed since at least 1974 and include three visits by this reporter within the past couple years.

   Construction in the area during the fall of 2016 destroyed the Daedalochila habitat on the northeast bridge approach thus eliminating any live snails that may have been present. However, during a field survey on 12/2/2016 this reporter discovered additional Daedalochila auriculata shells on the southwestern bridge approach to the creek which was unaffected by the construction. Although no live specimens could be located, several dozen empty shells were easily found.

    A return visit was made to the area on 12/5/2016 and the southeastern bridge approach was surveyed. There too several dozen empty Daedalochila auriculata shells were easily found. However, like the southwestern bridge approach no live specimens could be located.

    A final visit was made to the site on 12/26/2016 and a limited number of empty Daedalochila shells were also found on the northwest bridge approach thus proving that at one time the snails were living on all four bridge approaches. Again no live specimens were located in the limited area available to peruse with most of the approach already having been destroyed by construction.

    Since the Daedalochila were initially discovered on the northeastern approach to Durbin Creek in 2010 no attempt was ever made to survey the remaining bridge approaches for Daedalochila because of the extreme steepness of the bank between the road and the flood plain below (too steep to walk upright without support).

 Daedalochila habitat before construction (5/2/2010) Daedalochila habitat after construction (10/2/2016)

Daedalochila habitat before construction (5/2/2010)  Daedalochila habitat after construction (10/2/2016)

Southwest bridge approach where the Daedalochila were found on 12/2/2016. The view is looking toward the west.

Southwest bridge approach where the Daedalochila were found on 12/2/2016. The view is looking toward the west.

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