Euglandina rosea (Férussac, 1821) Predation On Polygyra septemvolva Say, 1818 and Daecalochila auriculata (Say, 1818)

Euglandina rosea (Férussac, 1821)

Predation On Polygyra septemvolva Say, 1818 and Daecalochila auriculata (Say, 1818)

The pictured freshly deceased specimen was collected from the roadside swale on the west side of US-1 about 3.1 miles northwest of International Golf Parkway, St. Johns County, Florida on 11/9/2017. When subsequently checked several days later, the specimen was emitting a foul odor so it was soaked in water in order to facilitate the removal of what was believed to be remains of the expired snail. During the removal process a pair of Daedalochila auriculata (Say, 1818) Ocala Liptooth and a pair of Polygyra septemvolva Say, 1818 Florida Flatcoil were also found in addition to the decomposing remains of the Euglandina. With smaller snails, Euglandina swallow their prey whole - shell and all. With larger prey the size of Daedalochila auriculata, Euglandina normally extract the living snail from the shell and discard the empty shell. However, with the armored aperture of Daedalochila auriculata that latter feeding strategy would likely not be possible.