One Hundred Snail Shells

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·@carlgnash·
0.000 HBD
One Hundred Snail Shells
[![image.png](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/carlgnash/pjYImIAD-image.png)](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/carlgnash/pjYImIAD-image.png)

#### [*Oreohelix sp.*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oreohelix)

[Oreohelix land snails are endemic to the western United States and particularly the Rocky Mountains, Great Basin and Southwest.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oreohelix)  There are seven species known to occur in Utah: Oreohelix eurekensis, O. haydeni, O. parawanensis, O. peripherica, O. strigosa, O. subrudis, and O. Yavapai (Pilsbry 1939).

[![image.png](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/carlgnash/l1MphceN-image.png)](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/carlgnash/l1MphceN-image.png)

I believe most of the shells above belong to Oreohelix peripherica (Deseret Mountainsnail) and specifically the recognized sub-species Oreohelix peripherica wasatchensis (named after the Wasatch Mountain Range where we have found all of these specimens while poking around the Wasatch Front).

![image.png](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/carlgnash/KaMkxIFs-image.png)

These snails have obviously been racing around the region for a long time - here is a fossilized representative we found (below left) displayed next to its modern day cousin!  

![image.png](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/carlgnash/2kpgpelm-image.png)  

We collect the intact shells when we find them and have been using them for craft projects.  The Things love painting and coloring on them :)  After a long soak to get the dirt out and a little bit of bleach water to lift the stains, these shells make a great canvas. 

[![image.png](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/carlgnash/Vdmhscww-image.png)](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/carlgnash/Vdmhscww-image.png)

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[![image.png](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/carlgnash/U3YHZYTG-image.png)](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/carlgnash/U3YHZYTG-image.png)

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[![image.png](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/carlgnash/BnrzL9Fo-image.png)](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/carlgnash/BnrzL9Fo-image.png)

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[![image.png](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/carlgnash/AQL9XHwP-image.png)](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/carlgnash/AQL9XHwP-image.png)

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#### Utah Snail References

[Nelson and Crandall, 1994.  Phylogeny and Conservation of the Utah Land Snail Oreohelix peripherica (Gastropoda: Pulmonata: Camaenidae)](http://jur.byu.edu/?p=7408)

Pilsbry, H. A., 1939. Land Mollusca of North America (North of Mexico). Monograph No 3 of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, Vol. 1, Part 1. Philadelphia, 377 and 573
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