- Valvata (Valvata) cristata O. F. Müller 1774 Flat valve snail
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© Dr Roy Anderson
© Dr Roy Anderson
Map hosted by the
National Biodiversity Data Centre, Waterford
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A small operculate shell forming a flattened coil. Colour yellow-brown. Animal with a feathery external gill. Found in clear, weedy waters of small size.
Key characteristics
- Shell a flattened coil of 4-5 whorls
- Colour yellow-brown, glossy, except when covered by deposits
- With an operculum (compare small planorbids which have no operculum)
- Live animal has a feathery external gill
Size
3-3.5 mm.
World Distribution
Found across the whole of mainland Europe and Siberia to the Pacific. Distribution type: Eurasian Wide Temperate (65).
GBIF distribution map [open in new tab]
Irish Distribution
Scattered across central areas of Ireland north to Loughs Neagh and Erne. Disappears towards the south-west, west and north-west.
Ecology
- Found in clear weedy habitats of relatively small size and minimal flow i.e. drains, floodplain marshes, margins of larger lakes, fens
- Becomes rare in acid or peaty waters
Red List status
- Least concern (lc).
Wikipedia link
Wikipedia page for Valvata cristata
| Anderson, R., (2016). Valvata (Valvata) cristata O. F. Müller 1774. [In] MolluscIreland. http://www.habitas.org.uk/molluscireland/species.asp?ID=179 Accessed on 2024-09-15. |