Physella gyrina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Physella gyrina |
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| Physella gyrina figure 10 | |
| 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: |
Physellini
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| Genus: |
Physella
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| Species: |
P. gyrina
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| Binomial name | |
| Physella gyrina (Say, 1821)
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| Synonyms | |
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Physa gyrina Say, 1821 |
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Physella gyrina, also known as the "tadpole physa", is a small freshwater snail. It's a type of mollusk that breathes air and lives in water. These snails are special because their shells are "left-handed," which means they spiral in a unique way. They belong to a group of snails called Gastropoda, and they are part of the Physidae family.
About the Tadpole Physa Shell
Snails in the Physidae family have shells that are called sinistral. This is a fancy word meaning "left-handed." Imagine holding the snail's shell with its pointy top (called the spire) pointing upwards. If the opening (called the aperture) is on the left side, then it's a sinistral shell. Most snail shells are "right-handed," so this makes the tadpole physa quite unique!
The shells of Physella snails have a large opening. They also have a pointed spire, which is the tip of the shell. Their shells are thin and somewhat clear, almost like they're made of horn. Unlike some other snails, they don't have an operculum. An operculum is like a little trapdoor that some snails use to close off their shell opening for protection.
Where These Snails Live
The tadpole physa snail is found in many places around the world. It is naturally found in the USA. However, it has also been introduced to other countries, meaning it was brought there by humans.
You can find Physella gyrina in:
- The USA (where it originally comes from)
- Great Britain (where it was introduced)
- Ireland (where it was introduced)
- Spain
These snails are often found in freshwater habitats like ponds, lakes, and slow-moving rivers.
