January, 1960 nautilus 118
County, Oklahoma Univ. Kansas Sci. Bull. 30 (pt. 1, no.
2) : 15-39, pis. 4, 5. May 15.
Pilsbry, Henry A. 1935. Mollusks of the fresh-water Pliocene
beds of the Kettleman Hills and neighboring oil fields,
California. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 86: 541-
570, Jan. 29 (issue of 1934)
SUCCINEA AUREA LEA AND S. PYRITES, NEW
Bv LESLIE HUBRICHT
Succinea aurea was described by Lea (Proc. Amer. Philos.
Soc. 2:32, 1841. Trans. Amer. Philos. Soc. 9:4, 1846) from speci-
mens collected at Springfield, Ohio. During the spring of 1958,
the author visited Springfield to collect this species. Two species
of Succineidae, Oxyloma retusa (Lea) and Quickella vermeta
(Say) , were found in abundance in that area.
In his description. Lea states: "This is a beautiful little species,
remarkable for its fine surface and bright golden colour. In
form it is nearly allied to vermeta. (Say.)" Quickella vermeta is
sometimes of a bright golden color, especially when it lives in
sunny situations. Succinea aurea is undoubtedly based on Quick-
ella vermeta, and the Atlantic Coastal species which has borne
this name is a different species.
For this Atlantic Coastal species, the author proposes the
name Succinea pyrites, new species. It is described by H. A.
Pilsbry, Land Mollusca of North America (North of Mexico)
2:815-818, figs. 441a, b; 442E (holotype) , F. Type locality: Cape
May, New Jersey, holotype 67795, paratypes 247364 Sc 189420
A.N.S.P., other paratypes 20614, collection of the author.
Of the localities cited by Pilsbry for Succinea aurea, those from
near the Atlantic Coast from Virginia to New Jersey are prob-
ably all Succinea pyrites. In the authors experience, S. pyrites
is confined to salt marshes and the records from western New
York need to be verified anatomically before being accepted.
The records from Yammasee, South Carolina; Wells, York Co.,
Maine; and Barnstable Co., Masachusetts, are based on imma-
ture shells which are unidentifiable. The record from Oldtown,
Ohio, is based on an immature specimen of Oxyloma retusa
(Lea) . The records from Cincinnati, Ohio, and Clark Co.,
Indiana, are undoubtedly based on Quickella vermeta which is
a very common snail along the Ohio River.
BioStor
