Physa fontinalis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Physa fontinalis |
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| Five shells of Physa fontinalis | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
| Class: | |
| (unranked): | |
| Superfamily: |
Planorboidea
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| Family: |
Physidae
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| Subfamily: |
Physinae
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| Tribe: |
Physini
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| Genus: |
Physa
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| Species: |
P. fontinalis
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| Binomial name | |
| Physa fontinalis (Linnaeus, 1758)
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| Synonyms | |
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Bulla fontinalis Linnaeus, 1758 (basionym) |
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The common bladder snail, also known as Physa fontinalis, is a type of freshwater snail. It's an aquatic gastropod mollusk that breathes air. These snails are special because their shells are "left-handed," meaning the opening is on the left side when you hold the shell with the point facing up.
Contents
What Does the Bladder Snail Look Like?
The shell of a common bladder snail is usually about 7 to 12 mm tall and 4 to 7 mm wide. It has a spiral shape with four or five turns, and the very top is rounded. The shell is super thin, almost see-through, and looks shiny. It's usually a light horn color. The opening of the shell is wide and oval, with very thin, delicate edges.
The snail's body is typically brown to black. You might notice that parts of its mantle (a special skin layer) stretch out like little fingers over the outside of its shell. Bladder snails have long, thin tentacles with their eyes located at the bottom of these tentacles. Their "foot," which they use to move, is also long and thin. Interestingly, bladder snails are hermaphrodites, which means each snail has both male and female reproductive parts.
Where Do Bladder Snails Live?
Common bladder snails are very adaptable and can live in many different watery places. You can find them in:
- Streams
- Rivers
- Ponds
- Lakes
- Springs
- Canals
- Irrigation ditches
They don't mind if the water has lots of nutrients and plants, or if it's not as rich. They can even live in water that's a bit polluted.
Where Can You Find Bladder Snails?
These snails are found across a large area in the western part of Europe and Asia. It can be tricky to know exactly how far east they go because they look very similar to other snail species. It's thought that they live in cool, temperate regions across Europe and Asia. Some snails found in North America might even be the same species, which would mean they live all around the northern parts of the world!
You can find Physa fontinalis in many countries, including:
- Czech Republic
- Slovakia
- Germany
- Poland
- Netherlands
- Croatia
Are Bladder Snails in Danger?
Good news! The common bladder snail is listed as a Least Concern species. This means that, for now, they are not considered to be at high risk of disappearing. However, they are still included on some national and regional "Red Lists." These lists help scientists keep an eye on species that might be facing challenges in certain areas, even if they are doing well overall.
