The genus was first established by the American malacologist Augustus Addison Gould in 1856, to contain his newly described Cyclostoma pollex (now accepted as Pollicaria gravida).

[3] The genus Pollicaria contains six species:[3] Elephant pupinid snails have distinctively shaped shells that resemble insect pupae.

Patches of dark-brown to black spots may be found scattered on the head and on the upper surfaces of the muscular foot.

Males have a cone-shaped external penis on the right side of their body which will broaden and enlarge during mating season.

They are commonly found in abundant numbers under the leaf litter of forests near limestone outcroppings.