Alcadia euglypta

Alcadia euglypta is a minute species of operculate land snail in the family Helicinidae. The species is endemic to eastern Cuba and was first described by Clench & Aguayo in 1950.

Taxonomic placement

The ordinal and familial placement of A. euglypta follow the modern neritimorph classification summarised by Richling (2004).

Description

Boss & Jacobson (1973) give the following diagnostic characters:

• Shell depressed-trochiform, thin and translucent, glossy horn-coloured to pale straw.
• Height up to 3.5 mm; maximum diameter 5.5 mm.
• 5–5½ slightly convex whorls with fine incremental striae and faint spiral microsculpture; a weak peripheral angulation may be present.
• Spire low; apex obtuse.
• Aperture oblique, broadly semicircular; peristome thin, not markedly expanded.
• Columellar callus thin, not dentate; umbilicus covered.
• Operculum multispiral, calcareous.

Distribution and habitat

The type locality lies in the Sierra Maestra (then Oriente Province, now Santiago de Cuba/Granma provinces), eastern Cuba. Subsequent records are confined to montane limestone outcrops in the same region.

Conservation status

As of September 2025 the species has not been assessed by the IUCN Red List. Given its narrow range and the continuing loss of native forest in eastern Cuba, Boss & Jacobson (1973) considered the taxon “potentially vulnerable,” but no quantitative data exist.

References