Merdigera obscura

Merdigera obscura is a species of air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Enidae.

Merdigera obscura
Left side view of a live Merdigera obscura.
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Mollusca
Class:
Gastropoda
(unranked):
clade Heterobranchia
clade Euthyneura
clade Panpulmonata
clade Eupulmonata
clade Stylommatophora
informal group Orthurethra
Superfamily:
Enoidea
Family:
Enidae
Subfamily:
Eninae
Tribe:
Multidentulini
Genus:
Merdigera
Species:
M. obscura
Binomial name
Merdigera obscura
Synonyms[2]
  • Helix obscura Müller, 1774
  • Bulimus excessivus Pirona, 1865
  • Bulimus columellaris Westerlund, 1887

Distribution and habitat

This species is present in North Western Africa and in most of Europe (Albania; Austria; Belgium; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Bulgaria; Croatia; Czechia; Denmark; Estonia; Finland; France; Germany; Greece; Hungary; Ireland; Italy; Latvia; Lithuania; Montenegro; Netherlands; Republic of North Macedonia; Norway; Poland; Portugal; Romania; Russia; Serbia; Slovakia; Slovenia; Spain; Sweden; Switzerland; Ukraine; United Kingdom).[2][3][4] These terrestrial molluscs prefers shady and rocky environments in deciduous forests, at an elevation of 2,000–2,200 metres (6,600–7,200 ft) above sea level. They can be found mainly at tree trunks, under leaf litter or stones and on walls. [3] They prefer shady and rocky environments in deciduous forests, at an elevation of 2,000–2,200 metres (6,600–7,200 ft) above sea level. They can be found mainly at tree trunks, under leaf litter or stones and on walls. [3]

Description
Shell of a live M. obscura on a wall
Merdigera obscura shells.

Merdigera obscura can reach a shell length of about 8.5-10.5 x 3-4 mm.[3] These shells have 6 slightly convex whorls with deep suture. The apertural margin is reflected and white, not connected by a callus or white layer at the parietal side. The shell colour is evenly brown. The surface has dense radially striations.[3]

The animal is dark brown, lighter laterally and on the foot. The upper tentacles are long, the lower tentacles length is 1/4 of upper tentacles. The animal crawls with the shell in a very high position and not much bent to the right side. Juveniles and adults often have camouflage.[3] This species is rather similar to Ena montana.

Biology

Females lay 12-20 oval eggs between May and October. Juveniles hatch after 2 weeks. Adults can be found in the first months of the second year.[3][5]

See also

Bibliography
  • Anderson, R. 2005. An Annotated List of the Non-Marine Mollusca of Britain and Ireland. InvertebrateIreland Online, Ulster Museum , Belfast and National Museum of Ireland , Dublin
  • Kerney, M, 1999, Atlas of the Land and Freshwater Molluscs of Britain and Ireland, , Harley Books,

References
  1. Müller O. F. (1774). Vermivm terrestrium et fluviatilium, seu animalium infusoriorum, helminthicorum, et testaceorum, non marinorum, succincta historia. Volumen alterum. - pp. I-XXVI [= 1-36], 1-214, [1-10]. Havniæ & Lipsiæ. (Heineck & Faber).
  2. Fauna Europaea
  3. Animal Base
  4. IUCN
  5. iNaturalist
  6. Balashov I. & Gural-Sverlova N. 2012. An annotated checklist of the terrestrial molluscs of Ukraine. Journal of Conchology. 41 (1): 91-109.
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