Description: A small, tightly coiled, low-spired shell with the last whorl proportionately narrower than that of V. crystallina. Shell glassy and transparent but often whitish, clouded, even when fresh. Seen through the shell the digestive gland has dark streaks which are less evident in crystallina. 2.2-2.6 mm.

World Distribution: Found across central and southern Europe to the Mediterranean. Distribution type: European Southern-temperate (83).

Irish Distribution: Widespread and common in all but the most acidic or waterlogged soils.

Ecology:

• Mainly a grassland species
• Occurs in other habitats as well, for example woodland and hedgerows
• Not in very wet or acid places

Key Identification Features:

• A small, tightly coiled, glassy shell
• Shell glassy and transparent but often whitish, clouded, even when fresh
• Width of body (last) whorl less than 1.5X the width of the previous whorl
• Umbilicus deep and symmetrical
• Digestive gland often with more dark streaks than V. crystallina
• Lip of aperture simple, unthickened

Red list status:

• Least concern (lc).

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

iNaturalist: Vitrea contracta at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

GBIF data for Vitrea contracta | Classification: Gastropoda, Stylommatophora, Pristilomatidae, Vitrea

Thumbnails for genus Vitrea