Description: Shell dextral, characteristically globular or barrel-shaped, and appearing dark in colour. Aperture with 6-10 prominent teeth: at least 2 parietal, 2 columellar and 2 palatal. Outer lip slightly reflected and with a marked central indentation. Shell surface glossy, smooth, dark red-brown. In undisturbed wetlands. Widespread but declining. 1.9-2.2 mm.

World Distribution: Found across Europe from about 63 degrees N in Scandinavia through the British Isles to the Mediterranean. Distribution type: Eurosiberian Wide-temperate (64).

Irish Distribution: Locally frequent across Ireland in fens, marshes, lakeshores and riverbanks.

Ecology:

• Often found on tall fen or marginal vegetation such as Juncus or Typha but also at the roots of grasses and Iris in wet, unimproved pasture
• Its occurrence in pasture has been declining steeply due to field drainage and re-seeding

Key Identification Features:

• A tiny dark red-brown, smooth, globular shell
• Whorls convex and sutures deep
• Mouth with outer lip reflected and with a marked indentation
• From 6 to 10 teeth present, at least 2 parietal, 2 columellar and 2 palatal
• Animal very dark, almost black

Red list status:

• Vulnerable (VU).

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

iNaturalist: Vertigo antivertigo at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

GBIF data for Vertigo antivertigo | Classification: Gastropoda, Stylommatophora, Vertiginidae, Vertigo

Thumbnails for genus Vertigo