Biology:Mercuria similis

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Short description: Species of gastropod

Mercuria similis
Mercuriaconfusa.jpg
Shell of Mercuria similis
Scientific classification edit
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Caenogastropoda
Order: Littorinimorpha
Family: Hydrobiidae
Genus: Mercuria
Species:
M. similis
Binomial name
Mercuria similis
(Draparnaud, 1805)
Synonyms[2]
  • Pseudamnicola confusa Amnicola confusa
  • Frauenfeld, 1863 Draparnaud, 1805
  • (Frauenfeld, 1863) Pseudamnicola similis
  • Mercuria confusa (Draparnaud, 1805)
  • Cyclostoma simile (Frauenfeld, 1863)

Mercuria similis is a species of small freshwater snail with an operculum, an aquatic gastropod mollusk in the family Hydrobiidae.[1]

This species only tolerates very low salinities, and is perhaps better characterized as a freshwater snail.

Description

The 3–4 mm. high shell is fragile and translucent yellow-white in colour (but often coated with dark deposits). The animal is entirely and uniformly pale and has pale tentacles. Mercuria similis has a proportionately larger body whorl than other hydrobiids.[citation needed]

The shell is short-conical and 3.90–4.50 mm high (Vic-la-Gardiole, Hérault), with a large oval aperture. The penis is long and slim, acute at its distal end, the penial appendix is broad and shorter than the penis which lies on the appendix.[citation needed]

Geographic distribution

  • This species is native to France, Italy, Malta, Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco.[1]
  • Great Britain
  • Ireland
  • Netherlands

References

  • Peter Glöer, Hans D. Boeters, Frank Walther Species of the genus Mercuria Boeters, 1971 (Caenogastropoda: Truncatelloidea: Hydrobiidae) from the European Mediterranean region, Morocco and Madeira, with descriptions of new species Folia Malacologica 11/2015; 23(4). DOI: 10.12657/folmal.023.024 online Description, images

External links

Wikidata ☰ {{{from}}} entry