Description: Very small, cylindrical brown shell of 4-5 whorls. Shell sculpture is relatively coarse with radial growth lines. Aperture lacking teeth. Smaller and more coarsely sculptured than C. edentula. Widespread. 2-2.5 mm.

World Distribution: Confusion with allied species makes assessment of its range difficult. In Europe it appears to have a Suboceanic Temperate range (72). However, it has recently been found in highland forests in the Ethiopian zone (Tattersfield et al., 2001).

Ecology:

• Widespread, but commonest in the west and north.
• Generally common in woodland on acid or neutral soils
• Waterlogged peat is not favoured but peatland lagg woods and the drier margins of raised mires are commonly well populated
• May also be found in calcareous flushes in peaty terrain

Key Identification Features:

• A very small, cylindrical brown shell of 4-5 whorls
• Shell sculpture comprising regular, close-set growth lines
• Spire tapering slightly towards apex
• Aperture without teeth
• Lip thin, simple

Taxonomy:

• There are several records for coastal dune systems and it seems to be more tolerant of drier conditions than C. edentula

Red list status:

• Least concern (lc).

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

iNaturalist: Columella aspera at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

GBIF data for Columella aspera | Classification: Gastropoda, Stylommatophora, Truncatellinidae, Columella

Thumbnails for genus Columella