Occurrence of the Fragile Ancylid (Ferrissia californica) on the Shells of Wood Turtles (Glyptemys insculpta) in a South-central Pennsylvania Stream

Andrew S. Weber^1,2,*, Danielle D’Amato^1,3, Stephen J. Enders¹, Miranda L. McCleaf⁴, Christopher B. Bortz⁴, Jessica T. Weber⁵, Ellie Campbell¹, Lyndsi Gilbert¹, and Arthur E. Bogan⁶

¹theTurtleRoom, PO Box 521, Lititz, PA 17543. ²National Park Service, 274 River Road, Beach Lake, PA 18405. ³US Army Corps of Engineers, 701 San Marco Boulevard, Jacksonville, FL 32207. ⁴445 Meadowview Drive, Lebanon, PA 17042. ⁵Friends for Life Veterinary Care, 273 Grandview Avenue, Honesdale, PA 18431. ⁶North Carolina State Museum of Natural Sciences, 11 West Jones Street, Raleigh, NC 27601. *Corresponding author.

Northeastern Naturalist, Volume 31, Special Issue 12 (2024): G57–G62

First published early online: 9 June 2024

Abstract
Many invertebrate taxa have been reported attached to the shells of turtles. Freshwater limpets (Planorbidae: Ancylinae) have a widespread distribution in North America that overlaps with many species of freshwater turtles. We have observed 5 cases of Ferrissia californica (Fragile Ancylid) attached to the shells of Glyptemys insculpta (Wood Turtle) in a Pennsylvania stream. Four instances were on live turtles, and 1 case on a deceased individual. We only observed limpets on turtles in the fall season. Herein, we report details of these observations and discuss potential advantages and disadvantages to both turtle and limpet..

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