American Bladder Snail - Physella acuta

Up to 18mm long with a pointed turret and large flared mouth which joins the main shell at close to a right angle. As with other Physa species it is sinistral

Physa fontinalis has a much less pointed shell and the mouth joins the main shell at an acute angle.

• sinistral (left hand coil)
• large flared mouth - joining at nearly a right angle

Rivers and lakes, can tolerate some pollution.

All year.

This is an introduced species. It feeds on dead plant and animal matter, rather than algae which most snails feed on.

Widespread and relatively common particularly in the south.

Uncommon and/or under-recorded.