Description: A tiny dull white shell with oval aperture ornamented with two denticles and a thickened lip produced into a small, inward-pointing knob in the middle. Spire relatively shorter and body whorl broader than in Carychium tridentatum. Widespread in wet places. 1.6-1.9 mm.

World Distribution: Found across central and northern Europe into western Siberia. Distribution type: Eurosiberian Boreo-temperate (54).

Irish Distribution: Widespread and frequent throughout Ireland, except on peaty soils.

Ecology:

• Prefers wetland and carr habitats at elevations up to about 350m
• Also occasinally in ancient woodlands with C. tridentatum - these species are good indicators of long established, minimally disturbed woods
• Rarely occurs on peatlands except where base-rich flushes occur

Key Identification Features:

• A tiny dull white, cylindrical shell
• Very similar to Carychium tridentatum but with a broader body whorl, a distinction which can be judged in the field, with practice
• Mouth oval with two denticles and a thickened lip
• Internally, the shell has a simple, thin lamella running around the columella, seen by breaking open the shell above the aperture

Red list status:

• Least concern (lc).

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

iNaturalist: Carychium minimum at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

GBIF data for Carychium minimum | Classification: Gastropoda, Ellobiida, Ellobiidae, Carychium

Thumbnails for genus Carychium