Omphiscola glabra explained

Omphiscola glabra, commonly known as the pond mud snail,[1] is a species of small to medium-size, air-breathing, freshwater snail, an aquatic pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Lymnaeidae.[2] Omphiscola glabra is the type species of the genus Omphiscola.[3]

Distribution

This European snail can be found from southern Scandinavia (61° N) to southern Spain.

The distribution of Omphiscola glabra is very scattered and rare. It is seriously threatened, and has become locally extinct in many places. It is threatened by continuing habitat destruction because of drainage and intensive farming. Acriculturally induced eutrophication is also a threat. Omphiscola glabra has disappeared widely from urbanized areas such as London.

Shell description

The shell is strongly cylindrical, horny, often with a brownish or blackish surface, the apex is blunt, 7–8 moderately convex whorls, with last whorl being twice as high as the narrow aperture, and with aperture often with white lip.

The height of the shell is 9–12 mm, up to 15 mm or up to 20 mm. The width of the shell is 3–4 mm, up to 5.5 mm.[5]

Habitat

This snail lives in places such as swampy meadows and ditches.[6]

Omphiscola glabra is said to occur in small areas of standing water that have a lot of vegetation such as swamps, and also in standing forest waters with leaf litter, often in water with organic iron contents and low calcium contents.

In Central France, the populations of Omphiscola glabra are currently declining because its habitat is threatened by modern agricultural practices.[7]

In Britain however, this species occurs in small standing waters that are low in nutrients, with poor aquatic flora, often in waters drying out periodically. They usually do not occur in habitats with high molluscan diversity, and usually in habitats on uncultivated land. They are calciphile and have a pH tolerance of 5.4–8.8.

Reproduction begins in May. Juveniles hatch after 15–25 days. Omphiscola glabra has two generations per year.

Parasites

Omphiscola glabra can serve as an intermediate host for several digenean trematodes. In France, Omphiscola glabra is naturally infected with Fasciola hepatica,[8] Calicophoron daubneyi,[9] and Haplometra cylindracea;[10] in all, seven digenean species parasitize O. glabra in the Brenne Regional Natural Park, central France.[11] Moreover, a report suggests that the species is also susceptible to Fascioloides magna infection.[12]

References

This article incorporates public domain text from the reference.[13]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Joanna Lindsay . Laura Larkin . Marvellous mud snails . . Spring 2020 . 123 . 18-19 . 2 July 2023.
  2. Glöer P. (2002). Überfamilie Lymnaeoidea Rafinesque 1815. Familie Lymnaeidae Lamarck 1812. In: Glöer P. (ed.) Die Süßwassergastropoden Nord-und Mitteleuropas. Bestimmungschlüssel, Lebensweise, Verbreitung. Die Tierwelt Deutschlands 73. Conchbooks, Hackenheim, pp. 200–232.
  3. http://www.animalbase.uni-goettingen.de/zooweb/servlet/AnimalBase/list/species?taxongenus=3219 "Species in genus Omphiscola"
  4. Anderson R. (2009). "Value of species datasets as baselines (non-marine Mollusca)" . accessed 31 July 2010.
  5. Jackiewicz M. (2000). Blotniarky Europy (Gastropoda: Pulmonata: Lymnaeidae). Wydawnictwo Kontekst, Poznań. 115 pp.
  6. Rondelaud. D.. Vignoles. P.. Dreyfuss. G.. First field observations on the aestivation of Omphiscola glabra (Gastropoda, Lymnaeida) uninfected or infected with Fasciola hepatica in central France. Annales de Limnologie – International Journal of Limnology. 39. 2. 2009. 129–133. 0003-4088. 10.1051/limn/2003010. free.
  7. Dreyfuss . Gilles . Vignoles . Philippe . Rondelaud . Daniel . Current decline in the number and size of Galba truncatula and Omphiscola glabra populations, intermediate hosts of Fasciola hepatica, on the acidic soils of Central France . Parasite . 23 . 2016 . 46 . 10.1051/parasite/2016055 . 27774956 . 5086825.
  8. Dreyfuss. G.. Vignoles. P.. Rondelaud. D.. Natural infections of Omphiscola glabra (Lymnaeidae) with Fasciola hepatica in central France. Parasitology Research. 91. 6. 2003. 458–461. 0932-0113. 10.1007/s00436-003-0892-8. 14564511. 6809011.
  9. Abrous . M. . Rondelaud . D. . Dreyfuss . G. . Kabaret . J. . 1999 . Infection of Lymnaea truncatula and Lymnaea glabra by Fasciola hepatica and Paramphistomum daubneyi in farms of central France . Vet. Res. . 30 . 1. 113–118 . 10081118 .
  10. 10.1007/s004360050054 . Goumghar . M. D. . Abrous . M. . Ferdonnet . D. . Dreyfuss . G. . Rondelaud . D. . 2000 . Prevalence of Haplometra cylindracea infection in three species of Lymnaea snails in central France . Parasitol. Res. . 86 . 4. 337–339 . 10780746 . 31442019 .
  11. Rondelaud. Daniel. Vignoles. Philippe. Dreyfuss. Gilles. Larval trematode infections in Lymnaea glabra populations living in the Brenne Regional Natural Park, central France. Parasite. 22. 2015. 38. 1776-1042. 10.1051/parasite/2015038. 26692260. 4686325.
  12. 10.1007/s00436-005-0067-x . Rondelaud . D. . Novobilský . A. . Vignoles . P. . Treuil . P. . Koudela . B. . Dreyfuss . G. . 2006 . First studies on the susceptibility of Omphiscola glabra (Gastropoda: Lymnaeidae) from central France to Fascioloides magna . Parasitol. Res. . 98 . 4. 299–303 . 16362339 . 23827214 .
  13. http://www.animalbase.uni-goettingen.de/zooweb/servlet/AnimalBase/home/species?id=2200 "Species summary for Omphiscola glabra"

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Omphiscola glabra".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.