Valvata macrostoma
Encyclopedia
Valvata macrostoma is a species
of minute freshwater snail
with an operculum
, an aquatic
gastropod mollusk in the family Valvatidae
, the valve snails.
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of minute freshwater snail
Freshwater snail
A freshwater snail is one kind of freshwater mollusc, the other kind being freshwater clams and mussels, i.e. freshwater bivalves. Specifically a freshwater snail is a gastropod that lives in a watery non-marine habitat. The majority of freshwater gastropods have a shell, with very few exceptions....
with an operculum
Operculum (gastropod)
The operculum, meaning little lid, is a corneous or calcareous anatomical structure which exists in many groups of sea snails and freshwater snails, and also in a few groups of land snails...
, an aquatic
Aquatic animal
An aquatic animal is an animal, either vertebrate or invertebrate, which lives in water for most or all of its life. It may breathe air or extract its oxygen from that dissolved in water through specialised organs called gills, or directly through its skin. Natural environments and the animals that...
gastropod mollusk in the family Valvatidae
Valvatidae
Valvatidae, the valve snails, is a taxonomic family of very small freshwater snails with an operculum, aquatic gastropod mollusks.- Taxonomy :...
, the valve snails.
Habitat
This species lives in marshes and very small canals that have a very rich fauna and calcium-rich water.Distribution and conservation status
- Czech Republic - in Bohemia only
- Slovakia
- Poland
- Germany - high endangered (Stark gefährdet)
- Netherlands
- Great Britain