Superfamily Rissoacoidea Family Hydrobiidae Genus Akiyoshia Genus Alzoniella Genus Amnicola Genus Angrobia Genus Antrobia Genus Antroselates Genus Aphaostracon Genus Arganiella Genus Ascorhis Genus Avenionia Genus Belgrandia Genus Belgrandiella Genus Birgella Genus Bythinella Genus Bythiospeum Genus Catapyrgus Genus Cincinnatia Genus Cochliopa Genus Cochliopina Genus Fluminicola Genus Fluvidona Genus Fluviopupa Genus Fonscochlea Genus Fontigens Genus Grossuana Genus Hadopyrgus Genus Hadziella Genus Hauffenia Genus Hemistomia Genus Horatia Genus Hoyia Genus Hydrobia Genus Iglica Genus Islamia Genus Jardinella Genus Lanzaia Genus Lartetia Genus Lepyrium Genus Lithoglyphus Genus Littoridina Genus Littoridinops Genus Lobogenes Genus Marstoniopsis Genus Mercuria Genus Moitessieria Genus Notogillia Genus Opacuincola Genus Paludinella Genus Pauluccia Genus Paxillostium Genus Peringia Genus Petterdiana Genus Phrantela Genus Posticobia Genus Potamogyrus Genus Potamopyrgus Genus Probythinella Genus Pseudamnicola Genus Pseudavenionia Genus Pyrgophorus Genus Pyrgulopsis Genus Raphinema Genus Sadleriana Genus Saganoa Genus Soapitia Genus Somatogyrus Genus Spilochlamys Genus Stiobia Genus Tatea Genus Trochidrobia Genus Tryonia Genus Ventrosia Subfamily Cochliopinae Genus HeleobiaHydrobia ventrosa(Montagu,1803) Shell cone-shaped with 5-7 whorls,glossy,dark brown-greenish. Height 6,2 mm x width 3,0 mm. The animal is yellowish with black spots,the sole is white.The side of the head is blackish,the tentacles colorless. The snails feed on algae and bacteria in pools,muddy canals in brackish water. Along the Atlantic coast of Europe and North-America.
Hydrobia ulvae(Pennant,1777) Shell cone-shaped with 6-7 whorls,light-brownish to yellowish,periostracum brown. Height 6,1 mm x width 3,0 mm. The animal has a white sole with black spots,the head has a black line across.The tentacles have black spots. The most eggs are usually laid in May-June and August-September. The snails live for about 1-2 years,less than 1 % of the young snails live longer than a year.They feed on algae,bacteria and plants. Along the Atlantic coast of Europe,The Mediterranean,The African Coast and The Baltic Sea.
Mercuria confusa(Frauenfeld,1863) Shell cone-shaped with up to 4,5 whorls and a deep suture. The color is yellowish-brown,height up to 5,0 mm x width 3,0 mm. The animals live in sweet to brackish water between rich vegetation on muddy soil.In Western Europe and The Mediterranean.
Marstoniopsis scholtzi(Schmidt,1856) Shell cone-shaped with a blunt top,4 convex whorls.Color brown to greenish. Height 2,9 mm x width 1,7 mm. The animal is greyish,the head is blackish.Above both eyes is a yellow spot. The eggs are laid between May and July and hatch within 6 weeks. In pools,rivers and canals in Europe.
Potamapyrgus antipodarum(Gray,1843) Shell cone-shaped with up to 6 whorls,dark-brown,height 5,8 mm x width 3,0 mm. The head of the animal is black on top,the foot is white. The snails are ovo-viviparious and parthenogenetical,meaning they reproduce with non-fertilized eggcells.Males are rare.Each individual can produce about 80-200 young in a year.The animals usually don't get older than 7 months. The snails live in sweet or brackish water where they feed on plant material,algae and carrion.In Europe.
Potamopyrgus jenkensi(Smith,1889) Shell reddish brown but often blackened by mud deposits,5 mm high and 2-3 mm wide.
image:Martin Kohl
Amnicola limosa(Say) A small species,shell height is 4,5 mm and width 3 mm,color bronze green. It has a thin lip,a flat apex and a narrow and deep umbilicus. This snail lives in sand or mud and on waterplants. In North-America,Labrador to Florida and west to Utah.
image:© Ed Hendrycks © Musée canadien de la nature
Pseudamnicola confusa(Frauenfeld,1863) Shell small,semi-transparent,glossy with a blunt tip,pale horn color. Five to six whorls ,4 mm in height and 2 mm in width. The animal has a dark snout with a pale tip and an orange-yellow spot behind each eye. Gillia altilis(Lea) The shell is light brown,globose,8 mm in height and 6 mm in width. In North-America,New-York to South-Carolina. To freshwatersnails Home