Myosotella myosotis facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Myosotella myosotis
live Myosotella myosotis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Gastropoda
(unranked):	clade Heterobranchia clade Euthyneura clade Panpulmonata clade Eupulmonata
Superfamily:	Ellobioidea
Family:	Ellobiidae
Genus:	Myosotella
Species:	M. myosotis
Binomial name
Myosotella myosotis (Draparnaud, 1801)
Synonyms
see "List of Synonyms"

Myosotella myosotis, common name the mouse ear snail, is a European species of small salt marsh snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Ellobiidae.

Description

For terms see gastropod shell.

The shell is yellowish to brownish, smooth or with fine striation. It is shiny. There are 7-8 slightly convex whorls. The apertural margin is white and usually with a white layer at the parietal side. The parietalis is very strong and horizontal and often a small second parietalis is present. The columellaris is strong and the umbilicus is usually covered. The form denticulata has 3-6 short and thin folds (like drops) near the palatal margin at the inner lip.

Photo of the shell

Drawing of the shell

Molecular phylogenetics

The complete nucleotide sequence of the mitochondrial genome of Myosotella myosotis has been available since 2008.

Distribution

As a native snail this species is found in the following countries and islands:

• Belgium
• Netherlands
• Great Britain
• Ireland
• Mediterranean Sea coasts (Spain, Italy, Istria, Dalmatia, Albania, Greece, West and South Turkey), West European coasts to Ireland and Scotland, Black Sea, North Germany (and Baltic Sea).

As an exotic, this species is found on:

• The West Coast of North America
• The East Coast of North America

Description

The maximum recorded shell length is 12 mm.

Habitat

This species lives right at sea level (at the highest high-tide level), and so therefore the minimum recorded depth for this species is 0 m, and the maximum recorded depth is 0 m.

Synonyms