Kingdom Animalia Family Helminthoglyptidae Scientific name Sonorella allynsmithi Higher classification Sonorella | Superfamily Helicoidea Genus Sonorella Phylum Mollusca Rank Species | |
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Similar Sonorella, Helminthoglyptidae, Molluscs | ||
Sonorella allynsmithi (syn. Maricopella allynsmithi) is a species of land snail in the family Helminthoglyptidae. It is native to Arizona in the United States.
This snail has a shiny, rounded, grayish to brownish white shell up to 1.9 centimeters wide. The body is dark gray to black with copper flecks along the skirt and tail tip. It is hermaphroditic, with both partners usually becoming fertilized during mating. The snail lays its eggs in moist conditions, and may retain its eggs until rain falls. The eggs have calcite crystals in their capsules, sometimes enough to form a shell around the egg. The snail consumes plant and fungal matter in the soil.
The snail lives on rocky mountain slopes, taking shelter in talus and rockslides. During the dry conditions common in its habitat, the snail seals its shell aperture to solid rock to avoid desiccation. The rock should be rich in calcium carbonate, which the snail uses to form its shell. It is associated with local plant species such as saguaro cactus (Carnegiea gigantea), yellow paloverde (Parkinsonia microphylla), brittlebush (Encelia farinosa), foxtail brome (Bromus madritensis), Natal grass (Melinis repens), creosote bush (Larrea tridentata), and Coulter's lupine (Lupinus sparsiflorus).
This species was described from a specimen collected in the city of Phoenix, Arizona. It occurs in the mountains of Maricopa County.