''Cochlicella'' is a

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

of small, narrow-shelled, air-breathing

land snail A land snail is any of the numerous species of snail that live on land, as opposed to the sea snails and freshwater snails. ''Land snail'' is the common name for terrestrial molluscs, terrestrial gastropod mollusks that have gastropod shell, shel ...

s, terrestrial

pulmonate Pulmonata or pulmonates is an informal group (previously an order, and before that, a subclass) of snails and slugs characterized by the ability to breathe air, by virtue of having a pallial lung instead of a gill, or gills. The group inclu ...

gastropod Gastropods (), commonly known as slugs and snails, belong to a large Taxonomy (biology), taxonomic class of invertebrates within the phylum Mollusca called Gastropoda (). This class comprises snails and slugs from saltwater, freshwater, and fro ...

mollusks Mollusca is a phylum of protostomic invertebrate animals, whose members are known as molluscs or mollusks (). Around 76,000 extant species of molluscs are recognized, making it the second-largest animal phylum after Arthropoda. The num ...

in the family

Geomitridae Geomitridae is a taxonomic family of small to medium-sized air-breathing land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the superfamily Helicoidea Helicoidea is a Taxonomy (biology), taxonomic Taxonomic rank, superfamily of air-b ...

, previously placed in the

Helicidae Helicidae is a large, diverse family of western Palaearctic, medium to large-sized, air-breathing land snails, sometimes called the "typical snails." It includes some of the largest European land snails, several species are common in anthropoge ...

, Cochlicellidae or

Hygromiidae Hygromiidae is a taxonomic family of small to medium-sized air-breathing land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the superfamily Helicoidea.Helicellidae Ihering, 1909 Anatomy Some snails in genera within this family create and ...

. This genus has not yet become established in the USA, but it is considered to represent a potentially serious threat as a pest, an

invasive species An invasive species is an introduced species that harms its new environment. Invasive species adversely affect habitats and bioregions, causing ecological, environmental, and/or economic damage. The term can also be used for native spec ...

which could negatively affect agriculture, natural ecosystems, human health or commerce. Therefore it has been suggested that this species be given top national

quarantine A quarantine is a restriction on the movement of people, animals, and goods which is intended to prevent the spread of disease or pests. It is often used in connection to disease and illness, preventing the movement of those who may have bee ...

significance in the USA.

Species

Species within the genus ''Cochlicella'' include:''Species in genus Cochlicella''
AnimalBase. Accessed 29 December 2008. * '' Cochlicella acuta'' (Müller, 1774) * '' Cochlicella barbara'' (Linnaeus, 1758) * '' Cochlicella conoidea'' ( Draparnaud, 1801) ;Species brought into synonymy: * ''Cochlicella bulimoides'' Moquin-Tandon, 1855: synonym of ''Cochlicella barbara'' (Linnaeus, 1758) * ''Cochlicella cognata'' Rossmässler, 1837: synonym of ''Cochlicella conoidea'' (Draparnaud, 1801) (junior synonym) * ''Cochlicella meridionalis'' Risso, 1826: synonym of ''Cochlicella acuta'' (O. F. Müller, 1774) (junior synonym) * ''Cochlicella turricula'' Risso, 1826: synonym of ''Cochlicella acuta'' (O. F. Müller, 1774) (junior synonym)

Gallery

File:Cochlicella_acuta_01.jpg, Cochlicella acuta acuta (subadult) File:Cochlicella acuta 02.JPG, Cochlicella acuta acuta (adult) File:Cochlicella acuta acuta f. gigantea 01.JPG, Cochlicella acuta acuta f. gigantea File:Cochlicella acuta raphidia 01.JPG, Cochlicella acuta raphidia
(Pale form) File:Cochlicella acuta raphidia 02.JPG, Cochlicella acuta raphidia
(Coloured form) File:Cochlicella barbara 02.JPG, Cochlicella barbara
(Slender form) File:Cochlicella barbara 01.jpg, Cochlicella barbara
(Stocky form)

References

Geomitridae Gastropod genera {{Geomitridae-stub