The European Pond Snail (Radix peregra) is an air-breathing, freshwater mollusc in the Lymnaeidae family of pond snails. It is an aquatic pulmonate gastropod. It is an invertebrate because it does not have a backbone. Its shell is its exo-skeleton (outside skeleton).
The European Pond Snail has a brown shell that spirals clockwise. It has four whorls with fine grooves. The last whorl is next to the opening. Its tentacles are short, and the posterior end of its foot is round.
It measures about 1 centimetre (less than half an inch) in length.
It is found in Europe. It prefers slow-moving or still water ponds.
It is usually nocturnal, active mainly at night.
The European Pond Snail feeds on other small invertebrates and decaying plant matter.
It is hermaphroditic, which means that it is both male and female. It lays about 40-65 eggs, which hatch after 10-28 days.
Location of photographs: Paris, France
Photographer: Martina Nicolls
Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM