Lauria cylindracea from the vicinity of Kuşadası, Turkey.
This small species was described by da Costa in 1778. The taxonomic placement of the genus is uncertain; it was put in Pupillidae by Kerney & Cameron1, and in Orculidae by Schileyko2.
Differing descriptions in the literature may perhaps be explained by Kerney & Cameron's note that L. cylindracea is a variable species. According to them, "An angular tooth is normally present, linked to the top of the outer lip...In juveniles there is also a columellar lamella..." Schileyko, on the other hand, states that "Armature of adult shells represented by only two teeth: parietal and columellar lamellae; besides, angular tubercle may [be] present as well." The teeth in the aperture of the adult shell below agree with Schileyko's description.
Lauria cylindracea from Istanbul, Turkey. Arrows point to parietal (left) and columellar (right) lamellae. This shell was 3 mm long.
Lauria cylindracea is a widely distributed species with records from western Europe, including England, Germany, Denmark, Sweden and also Crimea, Caucasus, Turkey and northern Africa.
1. Kerney, M.P. & Cameron, R.A.D. 1979. A Field Guide to the Land Snails of Britain and North-west Europe. Collins.
2. Schileyko, A.A. 1998. Treatise on Recent Terrestrial Pulmonate Molluscs. Part 1. Ruthenica, Supplement 2.