Physella Aquatic Snail

Physella Aquatic Snail

Physella sp.
(Physidae)

Click on each photo thumbnail to enlarge.

This aquatic snail is air-breathing. It is less than a 1/2 inch long, left handed or sinistral – when the tip is pointed upward the opening of the snail is on the left. The shell is very thin and the snail’s body can be seen through it. Image “C” shows a close-up of this snail (an exception to our rule, since this image was not taken in the field). This genus is difficult to identify to species by sight only. This one is probably either P. acuta or P. gyrina, according to the available information.

This snail can be found at or just below the water surface, for instance on the bridge over the Stream in Fontenelle Forest, or at the waterline of the float on the pond. They are common there.

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