Description: Shell a rounded, regular oval, shape with low, rounded umbos placed centrally. Surface dull or silky with very fine irregular concentric striations. Colour yellowish to grayish but invariably coated in a red-brown to dark brown deposit. Widespread and often abundant. 2.5-3.5mm.

World Distribution: Restricted to Europe, and rare or absent in northern regions. Distribution type: European Southern Temperate (83).

Irish Distribution: One of our commonest species, particularly in wet woodland, marshes and ditches.

Ecology:

• A notably amphibious species which thrives in temporary habitats
• Frequent in temporary pools and floodplain marshes, also flood-prone margins of lakes and rivers
• Especially common in alder carr and other wet woodland types

Key Identification Features:

• The rounded oval shape is characteristic
• Shell moderately tumid with centrally placed umbos
• Surface usually dull, or silky if clean, with very fine irregular striations
• Colour yellowish to grayish, sometimes slightly rosy from the animal within but also may be coated with a red-brown deposit

Red list status:

• Least concern (lc).

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

iNaturalist: Euglesa personata at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

GBIF data for Euglesa personata | Classification: Bivalvia, Sphaeriida, Sphaeriidae, Euglesa

Thumbnails for genus Euglesa