Original Combination:

Named in honor of American malacologist Dr. Henry A. Pilsbry.

Original Description:

Shell pale-brownish-yellow translucent except near aperture where it is made opaque by an internal callus; spire low dome-shaped, composed of 7.5 to 8 narrow tightly coiled whorls; periphery somewhat angular in immature shells, but becoming well rounded in adults; umbilicus about 0.4mm in diameter in shells with up to 4 whorls, becoming rapidly smaller, not over 0.2 mm in shells of 6 or more whorls, sometimes completely closed; surface glossy, with numerous distinct growth-wrinkles, which are somewhat weaker on the base; base with indistinct spiral striae; aperture lunate, peristome thin and acute; within the aperture there are 2 lamellae; the columellar lamella in young shells is long, high, and leans strongly toward the basal lamella, in adults this lamella is greatly reduced; in young shells the basal lamella is long stout, and usually erect, in adults it becomes shorter, higher, and thinner, the apex often curving toawrds the columellar lamella; in some immature shells there is a small nodule on the columellar callus above the columellar lamella. Animal pale yellowish, with some gray along the back.
Diam. 9.6 mm, height 6.8 mm; 7.8 whorls Holotype.
Diam. 8.7 mm, height 7.1 mm; 8.0 whorls. Paratype.
Diam. 9.1 mm, height 5.1 mm; 7.4 whorls. Paratype.
Type locality: Tenessee; Moroe Co.; near Citico Creek, at mouth of Hell Hole Branch, Cherokee National Forest. Holotype 127735, figured paratypes 127737. Chicago Natural History Museum, other paratypes 27051, collection of the author.
Ventridens pilsbryi. although a common species, has remained undescribed because of confusion with V. gularis. The latter has remained undescribed because of confusion with V. gularis. The latter has a smaller, more globose shell with fewer whorls, and the animal is nearly black. It is most closely related to V. collisella, which has a larger, more elvated shell, with a very sharp sculpture above.
Ventridens pilsbryi ranges from southern Kentucky and southwestern Virginia to southrn Alabama and eastern Louisiana.