Radix auricularia

Ear pond snail

The ear pond snail (Radix auricularia ) is a water lung worm ( Basommatophora ) from the family of mud snails. It has already been demonstrated in Pleistocene deposits.

Features

The relatively thin shell casing earrings shaped, with the first two, very small whorls hardly grow in width; the last whorl is, however, very much broadened. The result is a concave outline to the chassis. The case measures about 1.5 to 2.5 cm in height and up to almost 2 cm in width. At the inner edge of the opening a strong crease is developed which is dented in the center or slightly twisted. However, the housing have a high intra-specific variability. The body of the animal is in the front part rather pale with dark spots at the back of rather dark with lighter spots. The sensors are triangular with the eyes on the basis of the sensor.

Lifestyle and dissemination

The animals live primarily on green algae, diatoms and protozoa. They are widespread Palaearctic and come in the Alps up to 1800 m altitude before.

Similar Species

Radix balthica can be very similar in extreme forms. However, here the outer edge of the housing is convex. The opening is usually much smaller. The wide mouthed mud snail (Radix ampla ) is also very similar to the size of the mouth. Here usually dominates the upper edge of the mouth to the thread. The columellar fold is not twisted in the wide-mouthed mud worm as in the ear pond snail.