Bithynia (gastropod)

Mean snout snail ( Bithynia tentaculata )

Bithynia is a genus of freshwater snails from the family of Bithynias ( Bithyniidae ) that is made to the order of Architaenioglossa. It comes with several types before in European inland waters.

Features

The species of the genus have a rechtsgewundenes, moderately slender, conical housing. Approximately five to six turns are formed. The amount to about 1.5 cm, the thickness up to max. about 1 cm. The mouth may be closed by a calcified operculum. Brownish the housing has an approximately smooth, glossy surface, in part, showing only growth lines. The shell is relatively thin and translucent.

Lifestyle and dissemination

The species of the genus are filter feeders and detritus feeders. They are widely used in Europe and northern Asia. The species of the genus Bithynia are dioecious. The young hatch, depending on water temperature after 14 to 20 days.

System

The Fauna Europaea divided the genus Bithynia Leach into two subgenera, the Nominatuntergattung Bithynia ( Bithynia ) and Bithynia ( Codiella ) Locard, 1894. Other authors reject this subgenus outline.

• Bithynia boissieri ( Küster, 1852)
• Bithynia Candiota Westerlund, 1885
• Bithynia graeca Westerlund, 1879
• Bithynia italica ( Paulucci, 1880)
• Bithynia leachii ( Sheppard, 1823)
• Bithynia mostarensis Moellendorff, 1873
• Mean snout snail Bithynia ( Bithynia ) tentaculata (Linnaeus, 1758)
• Bithynia radomani Glöer & Pešić, 2007
• Bithynia schwabii Frauenfeld, 1865
• Bithynia skadarskii Glöer & Pešić, 2007
• Bithynia troschelii ( Paasch, 1842)
• Bithynia walderdorffii Frauenfeld, 1865
• Bithynia zeta Glöer & Pešić, 2007