Euglandina rosea (Férussac, 1821) October Surprise
    During a molluscan survey on 10/6/2015 this reporter discovered an extensive Euglandina rosea population in the roadside swale along US-1 about 3.1 miles northwest of International Golf Parkway in northern St. Johns County, Florida. It was immediately clear that not only was the Euglandina population larger than ever seen at any location previously in over 20 years of field work, but the snails present attained a size much larger than elsewhere. This led to the site, which in actuality extends for a distance of about three miles along US-1 on both the east and west side of the road, being dubbed "The Giant Euglandina Site." Less than a week after site discovery, an 87.0 mm. empty shell was found and was likely the largest Euglandina rosea shell ever documented. The site was revisited on a periodic basis over the next three years and a large number of large/extra large shells were found - mostly empty shells but with a significant number of living specimens as well. Some of those specimens, 60 mm. in length or larger, are chronicled on the preceding seven pages. The presence of an ample supply of venomous Florida Cottonmouth snakes and thick vegetation was a hindrance in regards to properly surveying the some six miles of habitat. In the late summer of 2018, probably St. Johns County authorities or contracted workers sprayed herbicide along US-1 on the west side of US-1 thus presenting a golden collecting opportunity. About twelve visits were made to the site during October, 2018 and it was a real surprise as to the number of empty shells still present despite nearly three years of previous periodic surveys. Some of the larger empty shells (64 specimens) found during October are illustrated below.

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