Aplexa hypnorum

Aplexa hypnorum, or by the common name, the moss bladder snail, is a species of small air-breathing freshwater snail, an aquatic pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Physidae, a family which are sometimes known as the bladder snails.

Aplexa hypnorum
Shells of Aplexa hypnorum.
Shells of Aplexa hypnorum.
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Mollusca
Class:
Gastropoda
(unranked):
clade Heterobranchia
clade Euthyneura
clade Panpulmonata
clade Hygrophila
Superfamily:
Planorboidea
Family:
Physidae
Subfamily:
Aplexinae
Tribe:
Aplexini
Genus:
Aplexa
Species:
A. hypnorum
Binomial name
Aplexa hypnorum
(Linnaeus, 1758)[1]

As is true of all physids, the shell is sinistral, or left-handed. The species inhabits temporary water bodies and occurs in the Eurosiberian Boreo-temperate or possibly the Eurasian Boreo-temperate if East Siberia specimens are correctly identified. It may be Holarctic, again if North American specimens are correctly identified.

Aplexa hypnorum shell and live animal, as shown by Henry Adams and Arthur Adams, 1858, as Bulinus hypnorum, a synonym.
Aplexa hypnorum Presence in European countries

Distribution

Habitat

This species inhabits very shallow ponds and ditches, usually ones that dry out periodically.

Shell description

The shell is translucent and pale brownish in color. It is elongate with a high spire and a narrow aperture. The maximum length of the shell is about 13 mm.

In contrast to the shell, the soft parts of the animal are black or dark grey. The tentacles are long and narrow.

Life habits

This is a surprisingly active and lively snail.

Although the animals themselves die when a temporary pond dries out, the eggs are extremely resistant to desiccation.

References
  1. Linnaeus C. (1758). Systema Naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. 10th edition. - Vermes. Testacea: 700-781. Holmiae. (Salvius).
  2. (in Czech) Horsák M., Juřičková L., Beran L., Čejka T. & Dvořák L. (2010). "Komentovaný seznam měkkýšů zjištěných ve volné přírodě České a Slovenské republiky. [Annotated list of mollusc species recorded outdoors in the Czech and Slovak Republics]". Malacologica Bohemoslovaca, Suppl. 1: 1-37. PDF.

Further reading
  • Janus, Horst, 1965. "The young specialist looks at land and freshwater molluscs", Burke, London
  • Adams A. & Adams H. (1858). The Genera of Recent Mollusca, J. Van Voorst, Plate LXXXIV, nr 2&2a.
  • Aplexa hypnorum at Animalbase taxonomy, short description, distribution, biology, status (threats), images
  • Ecology
  • Older records, misidentifying Aplexa elongata as Aplexa hypnorum in Utah, United States
  • From Germany, with shell photo available
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