Gastrocopta pentodon (Say, 1822) Comb Snaggletooth

Gastrocopta pentodon (Say, 1822) Comb Snaggletooth

Gastrocopta pentodon (Say, 1822) Comb Snaggletooth

Gastrocopta pentodon (Say, 1822) Comb Snaggletooth

In wrack along Sunfish Creek, Bardstown, Nelson Co., Kentucky 7/27/2013. (1.8 mm.) The Sisters of Charity of Nazareth property, Nelson Co., Kentucky 5/30/2020 (2.0 mm.) In wrack along Sunfish Creek, Bardstown, Nelson Co., Kentucky 7/27/2013 (2.1 mm.)

Digital images above by Lori Schroeder

Gastrocopta pentodon (Say, 1822) Comb Snaggletooth Ova

    The two images below were taken 24 hours apart with the bottom image being the more recent. The unborn snail's eyespots are plainly visible in the bottom image.

Gastrocopta pentodon (Say, 1822) Comb Snaggletooth Ova

Gastrocopta pentodon (Say, 1822) Comb Snaggletooth Ova

Deposited in captivity by a specimen collected in Nelson County, Kentucky. Miscroscopic image by Lori Schroeder.

Gastrocopta pentodon (Say, 1822) form carnegiei (Sterki, 1916)

    Described as a distinct species, this morph is characterized by (1) its lack of callous apertural rim bearing several denticles and (2) possession of inset/penetrating palatal and infrapalatal lamellae. Hubricht (1968: 6) wrote "occasionally a specimen of G. pentodon will become mature and develop the teeth one whorl short of the usual number. Such specimens were named Gastrocopta [sic; actually Bifidaria] carnegiei by Sterki. Gastrocopta tappaniana produces similar aberrations." Aberrant process notwithstanding, this form is quite a handsome and distinctive shell.

Gastrocopta pentodon (Say, 1822) form carnegiei (Sterki, 1916)

    Collected from wrack along Harrison Creek near the Bean Lodge driveway, Nelson Co., Kentucky,  May 25, 2013 (1.9 mm.). Digital image by Jeff and Lori Schroeder.
Hubricht, L., 1968. The land snails of Kentucky. Sterkiana 32: 1-6. December.
Also see: Gastrocopta pentodon (Say, 1822) Comb Snaggletooth.

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