Tiny conical land snail

[Bruce Williams]

I was collecting eyelash fungi to photograph under the microscope and accidently collected this (very active) little fellow (it was hidden in moss). Anyway I thought I'd photograph it before letting it go.

The conical shell measures just 8mm long.

Does anybody have any idea of genus or species? ....or maybe knows of a website that might have some info. on tiny/conical snails.

Bruce

[naturelover]

strange i always thought these were pond snails.

[Bruce Williams]

Thanks Naturelover ....but no, not a pond or lake for a couple of miles. However the moss was very wet and I think the area is generally quite damp.

This second pic was taken as the snail was emerging from it's shell. I have posted it at request of C C (Christian) in hope that it might help with identification.

Bruce

[aeshna5]

Possibly Ena obscura, but I'm no expert on these critters!

[Lance Morgan]

yes I think it is Lesser Bulin (Ena obscura) which is fairly common but usually well hidden in mud.

[C C]

I don't know if i'm looking at it right, but the shell looks like it is sinistral.
If so, then it would be in the Family Clausiliidae, with species like.....Balea perversa, Cochlodina laminata and Clausilia bidentata.


Regards Christian.

[Bruce Williams]

Thank you all for your help on this one. I have been able to use the various species names mentioned by you all to locate several excellent websites - which has certainly made me appreciate just how difficult pinning down a species name might be.

Christian - With the shell lying flat, the opening is on the left and the whorls spiral anti-clockwise (to the left) which I guess makes it sinistral.

Photos I've seen of Ena obscura all seem to spiral clockwise with opening on right. All the left-handed species you mention look possibles so....

Snail was released this morning, so no more pics possible.

Thanks again,
Bruce

[Tiggrx]

Originally Posted by C C

.....Balea perversa, Cochlodina laminata and Clausilia bidentata

The shell looks the wrong shape for C. laminata or C. bidentata (which taper at both ends) so I would go for Balea perversa

[Bruce Williams]

Thanks Tiggrx - Bruce