Narrow-mouthed whorl snail facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Narrow-mouthed whorl snail |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Six shells of Vertigo angustior, scale bar in mm | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Synonyms | |
|
The narrow-mouthed whorl snail, also known as Vertigo angustior, is a tiny land snail. It's a type of mollusk that lives on land, belonging to a group called "whorl snails." These snails are so small that they are often called microsnails.
There is also a fossil subspecies of this snail:
- † Vertigo angustior intermedia Schlickum & Strauch, 1979
Contents
What Does the Narrow-Mouthed Whorl Snail Look Like?
This snail has a very small shell. It is usually about 1.6 to 2.0 millimeters tall. That's less than a quarter of a centimeter! The shell is shaped like an oval and has about 4.5 to 5.35 spirals, which are called whorls.
Shell Features
The opening of the shell, called the aperture, is quite small. It is also bent and has a slight notch. This notch continues as a spiral groove on the outside of the shell.
Inside the aperture, there are usually 5 or 6 small tooth-like bumps. These bumps are called denticles. The shell itself can be brown, yellowish-brown, or horn-colored. It also has fine lines from its growth.
Where Does the Narrow-Mouthed Whorl Snail Live?
The narrow-mouthed whorl snail is found in many parts of Europe and Asia. It is listed on the IUCN Red List, which tracks how endangered different species are. This snail is considered "Near Threatened," meaning it might become endangered in the future.
Conservation Efforts
This snail is also mentioned in the Habitats Directive of the European Union. This directive is a special rule that helps protect certain animals and plants. It means countries need to make sure this snail's habitats are safe.
Countries Where It Lives
You can find the narrow-mouthed whorl snail in many countries:
- Western Europe: Belgium, France, Great Britain, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Netherlands, Switzerland. In Great Britain, it is endangered. In Ireland, it is vulnerable.
- Central Europe: Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia. In the Czech Republic and Poland, it is considered vulnerable or endangered.
- Northern Europe: Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden.
- Eastern Europe: Belarus, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Russian Federation, Ukraine.
- Southern Europe: Italy, Romania.
- Asia: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia.
