Limpet snail

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Limpet snail
Limpet snail

Limpet snail

Systematics
Order : Lung snails (pulmonata)
Subordination : Water lung snails (Basommatophora)
Family : Mud snails (Lymnaeidae)
Subfamily : Radicinae
Genre : Radix
Type : Limpet snail
Scientific name
Radix auricularia
( Linnaeus , 1758)

The ear mud snail ( Radix auricularia ) is a water lung snail (Basommatophora) from the family of mud snails . It has already been proven in Pleistocene deposits.

features

The relatively thin-shelled housing is ear-shaped, with the first two, very small passages barely increasing in width; the last passage, however, is very much widened. This creates a concave outline on the housing. The case measures about 1.5 to 2.5 cm in height and almost 2 cm in width. At the inner edge of the opening there is a strong fold that is indented or slightly twisted in the middle. The housings, however, have a high intraspecific variability. The body of the animal is rather light in the front part with dark spots, in the rear part rather dark with lighter spots. The antennae are triangular in shape with the eyes at the base of the antennae.

Way of life and distribution

The animals live primarily on green algae , diatoms and protozoa . They are widespread in the Palearctic and occur in the Alps up to 1800 m altitude.

Similar species

Radix balthica can be very similar in extreme forms. However, the outer edge of the housing is convex here. The opening is usually much smaller. The wide mouthed mud snail ( Radix ampla ) is also very similar in size to the mouth. Here, the upper edge of the mouth usually protrudes over the thread. The spindle fold is not twisted in the wide-mouthed mud snail as in the ear mud snail.

literature

  • Peter Glöer: The animal world of Germany. Mollusca I Freshwater gastropods of Northern and Central Europe Key to identification, way of life, distribution. 2. rework. Ed., 327 pages, ConchBooks, Hackenheim 2002 ISBN 3-925919-60-0

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