Helicodiscus parallelus facts for kids

Helicodiscus parallelus, also known as the compound coil, is a tiny land snail. It breathes air and belongs to a group of snails called Gastropoda. This snail is part of the Helicodiscidae family.

Quick facts for kids Helicodiscus parallelus
A drawing of a live specimen of Helicodiscus parallelus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Gastropoda
(unranked):	clade Heterobranchia clade Euthyneura clade Panpulmonata clade Eupulmonata clade Stylommatophora informal group Sigmurethra
Superfamily:	Punctoidea
Family:	Helicodiscidae
Genus:	Helicodiscus
Subgenus:	Helicodiscus
Species:	H. parallelus
Binomial name
Helicodiscus parallelus (Say, 1821)
Synonyms
Helicodiscus lineatus

This snail is the main example for its group, the Helicodiscus genus. This means it helps scientists understand other snails in the same family.

A drawing of the shell of a Helicodiscus parallelus snail, seen from the opening.

Where the Compound Coil Snail Lives

The compound coil snail can be found in several places. It lives in parts of North America and even in Great Britain.

• It is found in northern Mexico.
• It lives around the Great Lakes region.
• It has also been found in Great Britain. In Great Britain, it is sometimes called a "hot-house alien." This means it arrived there, likely by accident, and lives in warm places like greenhouses.