Viviparus viviparus

Family

Viviparidae

Species

Viviparus viviparus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Common name

River snail, Common river snail

Description

This species will attain a maximum heightHeight:
The height of the shell is a measure of the distance between the apex and the most basal part of the shell OR the measurement taken from the apex of the shell to the base, when measured parallel to the axis of the shell.
of 40 mm, with 5-6 whorlsWhorls:
Pleural of whorl. A whorl is a complete spiral turn/growth of the shell of a mollusc. The whorls are counted from the apex outwards.
. The shellShell:
A hard, inflexible, calcareous or chitinous structure that vary in size and may either completely encasing the animal, covering some part of it or be internal.
is yellow-green with three distinct brown spiralSpiral:
Directional term: direction of the coils of the whorls of a shell; opposite of axial.
stripes (that follow the direction of the whorlsWhorls:
Pleural of whorl. A whorl is a complete spiral turn/growth of the shell of a mollusc. The whorls are counted from the apex outwards.
). The shellShell:
A hard, inflexible, calcareous or chitinous structure that vary in size and may either completely encasing the animal, covering some part of it or be internal.
of this operculate snail opaqueOpaque:
Not having the ability to see through an object. (Not transparent or translucent)
and slightly glossy. The umbilicusUmbilicus:
A navel-like indentation or depression in the center of the shell. It may be described as open (inside of columella visible), partially closed (partly covered by base of aperture) or completely closed (not visible). The width of the umbilicus is a measure of its greatest diameter.
(navel) is inconspicuous, occurirng only as a grooveGroove:
An elongate and fairly uniform depression or indentation in the shell or soft parts of a mollusc.
or notch. This species is not hermaphroditicHermaphroditic:
State of having both male and female reproductive organs. (See also Hermaphrodite)
, both sexes exist. They are ovoviviparousOvoviviparous:
Reproductive strategy: prior to deposition, eggs are retained inside the animal until they are fully developed.
.

Distribution

North America: Eastern

Europe

Synonyms

• Helix vivipara Linnaeus, 1758
• Nerita fasciata Muller, 1774 (part.)
• Nerita vivipara Muller, 1774 (part.)
• Cyclostoma achatinum Draparnaud, 1801
• Viviparus fluviorum Montfort, 1810
• Cyclostoma achatinum Lamarck, 1812
• Viviparus vulgaris Gray,1850
• Paludina duboisiana Mousson, 1863
• Vivipara subfasciata Bourguignat, 1870
• Vivipara subfasciata var. sequanica Bourguignat, 1870
• Paludina okaensis Clessin, 1875
• Vivipara forbesi Bourguignat, 1880
• Vivipara nevilli Bourguignat, 1880
• Vivipara imperialis Bourguignat, 1884
• Vivipara penthica var. albisiana Servain, 1884
• Vivipara bourguignati Servain, 1884
• Vivipara paeteliana Servain, 1884
• Vivipara penthica Servain, 1884
• Vivipara strongyla Servain, 1884
• Paludina duboisiana var. concis Westerlund, 1886
• Paludina penthica var. porphyrea Westerlund, 1886

References

Anderson 2005; Jakubik 2006; Kantor et al. 2009