Planorbidae

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Common Name

Planorbid Snail

Scientific Name

Phylum

Mollusca

Class

Gastropoda

Order

Pulmonata

Family

Planorbidae

Lab Storage

Feeding

Mostly collector-gatherers, some scrapers. They consume living algae, fine detritus, and living aquatic plants.

Water Quality Tolerance

Facultative to somewhat tolerant.

Fact

3-30mm across. Planorbidae do not have an operculum. Their shells are coiled flat, rather than extending into a spiral. When alive, the body is often reddish which shows through the shell. For more photos, refer to our online gallery: tinyurl.com/tgu7roh

Habitat

Most common on soft, silty substrate, but can also be found on any solid objects that protrude from the bottom. They have hemoglobin which allows them to survive in habitats with very low DO concentrations, such as small, warm ponds.

References

Voshell & Wright. 2002.