Vertigo ovata facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Vertigo ovata |
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| A drawing of the opening (aperture) of a Vertigo ovata shell. | |
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Vertigo ovata, also known as the ovate vertigo, is a tiny land snail. It's a type of air-breathing snail, which means it lives on land. This small mollusk belongs to the family Vertiginidae, often called the whorl snails.
What Does Vertigo ovata Look Like?
The shell of the Vertigo ovata snail is quite small. It is usually about 2.3 millimeters (mm) long. The shell's width is around 1.4 mm.
The shell is brown and shaped like an oval. It spirals to the right, which is called dextral. The very top of the shell, called the apex, is rounded. The shell has five smooth spirals, or whorls. The lines between these spirals are not very deep.
The main body part of the shell has a small dent near its opening. This opening is called the aperture. The aperture is shaped like a half-oval. The outer edge of this opening, called the lip, has five small bumps or "teeth". Three of these teeth are on the top part of the lip. They are parallel to each other and spaced evenly. The top and bottom teeth are small, and sometimes the bottom one is hard to see. The middle tooth is flat and sticks out.
The other two teeth are located on the central pillar of the shell, called the columella. These two teeth are close together and stick out at a right angle to the first three. The top one is smaller and angled. The outer lip of the shell is bent outwards but not flattened. It also has two prominent, flat teeth. The snail also has a clear belly button-like opening, called the umbilicus.
Where Does Vertigo ovata Live?
This snail species is native to the United States. It is found in many places across the country. One specific state where it lives is Texas.
