Description: A medium-sized shell with a very large body whorl and tiny spire. Similar in shape to Succinea putris but smaller and with a shorter spire, and more laterally compressed. Animal normally dark in colour. Widespread and common. 9-12 mm.

World Distribution: Found across a great swathe of Eurasia and North America. Distribution type: Circumpolar Wide-temperate (66).

Irish Distribution: The most widespread amber snail in Ireland and recorded, often abundantly, from all areas.

Ecology:

• Tends to stay near the base of tall vegetation in fens, river and lake margins and damp pastures
• Often seen crawling on mud or low vegetation on lake and river margins

Key Identification Features:

• A medium-sized shell with very large body whorl
• More laterally compressed than the larger Succinea putris with a more elongate aperture
• Animal usually dark in colour
• Shell amber in colour and with irregular radial growth lines

Red list status:

• Least concern (lc).

Distribution Map from NBN: Oxyloma elegans at National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.

iNaturalist: Oxyloma elegans at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

GBIF data for Oxyloma elegans | Classification: Gastropoda, Stylommatophora, Succineidae, Oxyloma

Thumbnails for genus Oxyloma