Species of gastropod
Aegopinella pura, common name the clear glass snail, is a species of small land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Gastrodontidae, the glass snails.[1]
Description
For terms see gastropod shell
The diameter of the shell attains 5 mm (0.2 in), its height 2.7 mm (0.11 in).
The shell is colorless or light brown with a faint shine. Its microsculpture, visible only under a microscope at 35-40x magnification, consists of faint spiral lines intersecting with irregular radial lines. The shell has 3.5 to 4 convex whorls, with the body whorl increasing in size but not descending near the aperture. The umbilicus is wide and slightly eccentric.
(Original description) The shell is depressed, rather shiny, transparent, and white, slightly striated or wrinkled. It has four relatively flat whorls arranged diagonally. The underside is more shiny than the upper side and completely lacks any opacity. The umbilicus is relatively large.[2]
The shell is very similar to Aegopinella nitens and Aegopinella nitidula, but differs from them by having a white shell.
Distribution
This species occurs throughout Europe including:
Habitat
Aegopinella pura lives in deciduous forests where it can be found in the litter layer, underneath deadwood and at the base of vegetation. It preferes dry to humid habitats, especially on calcareous substrate.[4]
Life cycle
In spring, the adult snails lay the eggs and die after that. Two years after hatching the juveniles reach their maturity.[4]
References
- Kerney, M.P., Cameron, R.A.D. & Jungbluth, J-H. (1983). Die Landschnecken Nord- und Mitteleuropas. Ein Bestimmungsbuch für Biologen und Naturfreunde, 384 pp., 24 plates. [Summer or later]. Hamburg / Berlin (Paul Parey).
- Sysoev, A. V. & Schileyko, A. A. (2009). Land snails and slugs of Russia and adjacent countries. Sofia/Moskva (Pensoft). 312 pp., 142 plates. [June] [= Pensoft Series Faunistica No 87].
External links
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