Description: A small operculate shell forming a flattened coil. Colour yellow-brown. Animal with a feathery external gill. Found in clear, weedy waters of small size. 3-3.5 mm.

World Distribution: Found across the whole of mainland Europe and Siberia to the Pacific. Distribution type: Eurasian Wide Temperate (65).

Irish Distribution: Scattered across central areas of Ireland north to Loughs Neagh and Erne. Disappears towards the south-west, west and north-west.

Ecology:

• Found in clear weedy habitats of relatively small size and minimal flow i.e. drains, floodplain marshes, margins of larger lakes, fens
• Becomes rare in acid or peaty waters

Key Identification Features:

• Shell a flattened coil of 4-5 whorls
• Colour yellow-brown, glossy, except when covered by deposits
• With an operculum (compare small planorbids which have no operculum)
• Live animal has a feathery external gill

Red list status:

• Least concern (lc).

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

iNaturalist: Valvata cristata at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

GBIF data for Valvata cristata | Classification: Gastropoda, incertae sedis, Valvatidae, Valvata

Thumbnails for genus Valvata