The Geographic Distribution of
Liguus Species

The snails of the genus Liguus are found throughout the Caribbean Islands of Cuba, 
Hispaniola and in the southernmost area of the Florida peninsula including the Florida Keys.
An unverified locality is on Cozumel Island off the Mexican Yucatan peninsula
[ref: this page for Cozumel specimen photos, info and collection data]

Home Page - Ecology - Taxonomy - Hybrids - Dispersal

Map of the Liguus Distribution Within the Caribbean Area

 There are five recognized species within the genus Liguus distributed as shown above;

                                     - virgineus, - fasciatus, - blainianus, - flammellus, and - vittatus
                             
                The type of the genus, Liguus virgineus, is restricted to the island of Hispaniola comprising the
                Republic of Haiti and the Dominican Republic

                The species,  Liguus fasciatus, is the most widespread of all the Liguus. Distributed throughout
                Cuba, Isle of Pines, the nearby coastal islets and keys off the North coast of Cuba, South Florida,
                and the Florida Keys.

                 The species, Liguus blainianus, is restricted to an area straddling the provinces of Habana and
                Pinar del Rio, on the island of Cuba.

                Liguus flammellus is the "Snail of the Mogotes". This tree snail only inhabits the remnant forests
                of the "Mogotes" [rock outcrops] which are unique to the Pinar del Rio province on the island of
                Cuba. It is also found on nearby hills of the region.

                Liguus vittatus, a species with a very very restricted range limited to the Ensenada de Mora area
                in the province of Oriente, Cuba.

                                                         The Cozumel Specimen Information

                The following are photos and information of the specimen/type at The Field Museum, Chicago, IL
                and are courtesy of  Dr. Jochem Gerber, Collections Manager, Division of Invertebrates.

                Pilsbry mentioned and figured the Cozumel Liguus in 1899: Manual of Conchology, 2nd Series,
                Vol. 12, p. 170, tab. 58, fig. 83. The Field Museum's collection/label information is as follows;
                                                             
                                                        "Liguus fasciatus fasciatus (Müller)
                                                         Cozumel Island, Yucatan, Mexico.
                                                         Dr. C. F. Millspaugh [leg.], 18 February 1899."

                The Field Museum catalog provides the following additional information for the specimen;

                                 "Received from: Armour Museum Expedition to the West Indies.
                                  Remarks: Sent to H. A. Pilsbry 5/29/99, Returned 12/1/99,
                                                 fig. Man. Conch. 12, pl. 58, fig. 83.

                Comments : I personally do not know of other Liguus specimens collected on Cozumel Island.
                                   Please let me know of other specimens or information regarding this subject
                                   so that I may post photos/info on this website. This particular specimen superficially
                                   appears to be a Liguus fasciatus castaneozonatus Pilsbry, 1912 and is similar
                                   to those Liguus found in Everglades National Park Hammock #55. The parietal callous
                                   and columellar area also seem to lack any pink pigmentation as in the specimens of 
                                   Liguus fasciatus castaneozonatus variety deckerti from the same hammock #55.
                                            - Emilio Jorge Power

Home Page - Ecology - Taxonomy - Hybrids - Dispersal