| Diese Seite auf Deutsch! |
|
Door Snails Part IIClausiliidae J. E. Gray, 1855 |
| Door Snails (Clausiliidae) Part I | Door Snails (Clausiliidae) Part II | Door Snails (Clausiliidae) Part III |
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
 Plaited Door Snail (Cochlodina laminata): Rostock, Mecklen- burg-Vorpommern. Photo: Henning Karger (iNaturalist). |
 Lesser Plicate Door Snail (Macrogastra plicatula): Chatyr-Dag Mountains, Krim Peninsula. Photo: Sergey Leonov. |
||
 Dubious Door Snail (Clausilia dubia): Ylistönrinne, Jyväskylä, Finland. Photo: Petri Kuhno (iNaturalist). |
 Grey Door Snail (Strigillaria cana): Neu-Ulm, Bavaria. Photo: Leon Wischenbarth (iNaturalist). |
  |
|
Hartmut Nordsieck (1940 - 2022) on hnords.de: Comprehensive homepage on the topic of Clausiliidae: General Information, Extant Clausiliidae, Fossil Clausiliidae and Publications. |
Door Snails
(Clausiliidae):
Systematic List (Concise Version).
Bestimmungsschlüssel Clausiliidae [Identification Key] on
Naturportal Südwest (In German).
 Ventricose Door Snail (Macrogastra vetricosa): Uzwil, St. Gal- len, Switzerland. Photo: Peter Oehler (iNaturalist). |
As was already described in the general part, the following characters are usually mainly taken into account for the identifiaction of door snails, provided this is at all possible and an anatomical examination is not indespensable. Such an examination should, taking into account the small size of most door snail species, only be performed by a specialist to not needlessly kill the snail.
| |
|
Schematic drawing
of the Closing Apparatus: Marked in the following text as
 . |
| |
|
Hartmut Nordsieck: (hnords.de): Sammeln und Bearbeitung von Schließmundschnecken, sowie für die Bestimmung notwendige Fachausdrücke des Schließapparats [Collecting and Processing Door Snails, with Scientific Terms of the Closing Apparatus Necessary for Identification] (In German). |
 Left-Handed Fuchs' Door Snail (Alopia straminicollis) and Right-Handed Fuchs' Door Snail (Alopia livida) from the Velikan Valley (Bucegi Mountains, Romania). Photo: Sigrid Hof (Source: hnords.de). |
 Bosnian Door Snails (Herilla bosniensis) in the Klausen gorge near Mödling, Lower Austria. On the right: Palatal View. Photos: © Alexander Mrkvicka, Vienna. |
Hartmut Nordsieck:
hnords.de:
Hybridization in European Clausiliidae.
Finally, also a part of the Alopiinae subfamily are several Central European species, especially the genera Cochlodina and Paracochlodina (see below), as well as the Bosnian Door Snail (Herilla bosniensis), which has been introduced to the Klausen Gorge near Mödling in Lower Austria, as well as its direct relatives.
Bosnian Door Snail (Herilla bosniensis).
Even from outside, the folds on the palatal side of the apertural whorl are well visible in this species.
Checklist of European Continental
Mollusca (CLECOM): Genus Cochlodina.
Plaited Door Snail - Cochlodina laminata (Montagu, 1803)
 Plaited Door Snail (Cochlodina laminata) from the Vienna Woods. Photo: Martina Eleveld. |
 Aperture of Cochlodina laminata. Photo: Martina Eleveld. |
Description: Cochlodina laminata has a rather
ventricose, almost smooth and glossy shell of a yellowish red to brownish red,
sometimes even cherry-red colour. The parietal lamella is small, the columellar
lamella more protuding. From an oblique view into the aperture, the
subcolumellar lamella is visible. The spiral lamella does not ascend as far as
the columellar lamella. The palatal layer (callus) is weakly developed, but
broad
.
A distinction from Cochlodina fimbriata and Paracochlodina orthostoma is more or less easily possible by the form and relative size of the palatal callus and the palatal folds. Also, in Cochlodina fimbriata, the ends of the apertural rim do not meet in the parietal area. In Paracochlodina orthostoma (see below), the collumellar rim of the aperture is straight, not curved.
Dimensions: H: 15 - 17 mm; W: 4 mm.
Habitat and Distribution: The Plaited Door Snail lives in deciduous forests, on the ground or under bushes, in the leaf litter and in between mosses. In more mountainous areas the snail is also found in coniferous forests. During humid weather it climbs up trees trunks. It feeds on algae, fungal growth and decaying wood in humid leaf litter.
Cochlodina laminata is found in almost all of Europe, from southern
Scandinavia as far as northern Spain and southern Italy, the southern Balkan
Peninsula and the Caucasus Mountains. On the British Isles it is absent in
the South of Ireland, in the North of Scotland and the nearby islands. In the
Alps, the species is found in altitudes as far up as 2000 m MSL (
Distribution Map).
Pale Door Snail - Cochlodina fimbriata (Rossmässler, 1835)
  Cochlodina laminata (left) and Cochlodina fimbriata (right) in comparison. Photos: Olivier Gargominy (Source 1, Source 2, CC 4.0).
Enlarge! |
.
 Pale Door Snail (Cochlodina fimbriata) from Lombardia (Italy). Photo: Gianbattista Nardi (Source).
Enlarge! |
Habitat and Distribution: The Pale Door Snail lives in humid and shady places in mixed forests (but not in coniferous forests) and in between limestone rocks. The species is more closely bound to ground rich in limestone, than Cochlodina laminata, and also in needs more humidity. During humid weather, the snails climb up tree trunks, and it is also found under tree bark and under leaves.
The distribution area of Cochlodina fimbriata spreads from the
Alpine foothills (e.g. the Lake of Constance area) over the Alps into Italy
(Apuan Alps in northwestern Tuscany), as well as the Dinaric mountain ranges as
far as Croatia and the Carpathians. In Switzerland the species is found as far
up as 1600 m MSL. In southern Slovenia, the Pale Door Snail is the most frequent
door snail species (
Distribution Map).
Threat Situation: In Germany, the Pale Door Snail is
considered endangered (EN), in the Austrian state of Vorarlberg, it is considered vulnerable
(VU), in Austria generally it is considered to be of least
concern (LC) (
see: IUCN Threat Categories).
Straight Mouth Door Snail - Paracochlodina orthostoma (Menke, 1828)
 Straight Mouth Door Snail (Paracochlodina orthostoma) from Slovakia. Photo: Jozef Grego (Source). |
 Paracochlodina orthostoma: Krákow, Poland. Photo: Piotr Lukasik (iNaturalist). |
.
Dimensions: H: 12 - 13 mm; W: 3 mm; N: 9½ - 10.
Habitat and Distribution: The Straight Mouth Door Snail lives in shady and humid places in deciduous forests, often on tree trunks. Like Cochlodina laminata, it is more or less indifferent to the ground's stone type.
Paracochlodina orthostoma is an ovoviviparous species giving birth to living juveniles, which had previously hatched in the mother's body, similar to the Common Door Snail (Alinda biplicata).
The distribution area of the species spreads from Central and Eastern Europe
as far north as southwestern Finland, Ukraine and the Dobruja region in Romania,
the northern and northwestern Alps. In North Germany, the species is absent.
In Switzerland, the species is found in altitudes as far up as 1400 m MSL (
Distribution Map).
Taxonomie: While the species is mentioned in older literature as Cochlodina orthostoma, its correct genus name, according to MolluscaBase, is Paracochlodina Nordsieck, 1969.
A member of the subfamily of door snails in the narrow sense, Clausilia rugosa is the so-called type species, the entire Clausiliidae family derives its name from. The small to middle sized door snails have a comb-like protrusion with a grove. The aperture is narrowed at the bottom to form a furrow. The upper (parietal) lamella und spiral lamella are joined, the lower palatal fold borders the palatal bulge.
Coarse Door Snail - Clausilia rugosa (Draparnaud, 1801)
 Coarse Door Snail (Clausilia rugosa parvula): Dinant, Bel- gium. Photo: Gilles San Martin (iNaturalist). |
.
 Coarse Door Snail (Clausilia rugosa parvula). Photo: © Sigrid Hof (Source). |
Dimensions: H: 7 - 12 mm; B: 1,9 - 2,5 mm; W: 9½ - 10½.
Habitat and Distribution: The Coarse Door Snail is partial to warmth and found in rather humid places between rocks and stones, as well as on old stone walls. Clausilia rugosa is also partial to habitats rich in limestone, but not necessary exclusive to limestone grounds.
The distribution area of the species spreads over Western, Southern and Central Europe as far as the Northern Carpathians, western Slovakia, southwestern Poland, southern Italy (Abruzzo Mountains), Piedmont and northeastern Spain. In Switzerland, Clausilia rugosa is found in altitudes of up to 2400 m MSL.
Dubious Door Snail - Clausilia dubia Draparnaud, 1805
 Clausilia dubia: Schalksburg, Württemberg (D). Photo: H. Zell (Source). Enlarge! |
Naturportal
Südwest: Unterscheidung zwischen
Clausilia bidentata und Clausilia dubia ([Distinction
between Clausilia bidentata and Clausilia dubia], in
German).
Between the parietal and columellar lamellae there are no folds. The lower lamella
ends in a double fold. While the frontal lower palatal fold is sometimes reduced, so partly is the frontal upper palatal fold. The frontal upper palatal fold
also is developed into a callus
.
The palatal keel is more pronounced than in the genus Macrogastra (see
below). There are very many locally restricted species.
 Clausilia dubia. Photo: © Sigrid Hof (Source). |
|
 Clausilia bidentata: Haysden Country Park, Tonbridge, Kent, Great Britain. Photo: Barry Walter (iNaturalist). |
Habitat and Distribution: The Dubious Door Snail usually lives on humid and shady rocks and old stone walls, mossy tree trunks and stumps. In the meanwhile, Clausilia dubia only rarely lives in the plains, more frequently in the highlands and also is a calciphile (partial to limestone) species. During periods of dryness, the snail hides in crevices and in the ground litter, but during humid weather, it climbs up tree trunks and rocks. The Dubious Door Snail feeds on lichens and algae.
The distribution area of the species spreads over almost all of Europe, except the Mediterranean peninsulae. On the British Isles it appears only in isolated places in Northern England, mostly between 250 and 600 m MSL, as well as introduced near Dover, the same as in Finland and Sweden. In Switzerland, Clausilia dubia is found in altitudes of up to 2400 m MSL.
Several widely ribbed populations, whose isolated distribution makes them subspecies on their own, are found in the Austrian states of Carinthia, Styria, as well as in Slovakia and Transylvania (also see: Wolfgang Fischer: Clausilia dubia). The classification of those subspecies, however, is discussed controversely, since it is hard to prove morphologically (H. Nordsieck, 2002) as well as genetically (Jaksch, lecture in 2012).
Threat Situation: In Northern England, the species is
threatened by air pollution and habitat destruction. In Germany, the species is
considered vulnerable (
see: IUCN Threat Categories). In
Switzerland, Clausilia dubia is rare in low altitude habitats.
Ventricose Door Snail - Macrogastra ventricosa (Draparnaud 1801)
 Ventricose Door Snail (Macrogastra ventricosa): Hollola, Tii- rismaa, Finland. Photo: Pekka Malinen (iNaturalist). |
).
Macrogastra ventricosa does not display any palatal folds or calluses
.
It is different from the
Common Door Snail (Alinda biplicata) by an absent
basal groove. The inside of the aperture is light brown.
Dimensions: H: 17 - 19 mm; W: 3,8 - 4,4 mm.
 Macrogastra ventricosa (left), Alinda biplicata (bottom) and M. attenuata (top). Photo: © Sigrid Hof (Source). |
The species' distribution area spreads in Europe from southern Norway and central Russia as far as northern Spain and northern Italy. In Switzerland, Macrogastra ventricosa occurs in altitudes as high as 1800 m MSL. In most part of the North German Plain, the Ventricose Door Snail is only found in a dispersed pattern.
The species is, however, found in some places in Schleswig-Holstein (where it usually is only local and rare), in Mecklenburg, as well as in West and East Prussia. In an isolated manner, the Ventricose Door Snail is also present in the South of Finland.
Middle Door Snail - Macrogastra attenuata (Rossmässler, 1835)
 Middle Door Snail (Macrogastra attenuata): Goslar, Germany. Photo: Walter Wimmer (iNaturalist). |
.
The density of ribs on the ultimate whorl is between 60 and 65 per cm.
Dimensions: H: 11 - 14 mm; W: 2,8 - 3,2 mm.
|
Macrogastra ventricosa (left), Alinda biplicata (bottom) and M. attenuata (top). Photo: © Sigrid Hof (Source). |
 Middle Door Snail (Macrogastra attenuata) from Lombardia, Italy. Photo: © Gianbattista Nardi (Source). |
The distribution area of the species in Europe spreads from Denmark as far as Italy and northwestern Spain.
Threat Situation: In Lower Saxony, the Middle Door Snail is
considered vulnerable (VU) (
see: IUCN Threat Categories).
Systematics: In literature, the Middle Door Snail partly is mentioned as Macrogastra attenuata, and partly as Macrogastra lineolata and even partly as Macrogastra attenuata lineolata. H. Nordsieck (1993) hterefore proposed to designate the species Macrogastra attenuata and to use the name Macrogastra attenuata lineolata for the northern subspecies.
Lesser Plicate Door Snail - Macrogastra plicatula (Draparnaud, 1801)
 Macrogastra plicatula: Unterloibl, Carinthia, Austria. Photo: Radovan Coufal (Source). |
 Macrogastra plicatula: Lauterstein, Baden- Württemberg, (D). Photo: H. Zell. |
 Lesser Plicate Door Snail (Macrogastra plicatula): Krasnoles- nye near Simferopol, Krim Peninsula. Photo: Sergey Leonov (Source). |
.
The density of the strong ribs on the shell surface on the ultimate whorl is 45 - 50 per cm. In between the ribs there are weak transversal spiral stripes.
Dimensions: H: 11 - 14 mm; W: 2,8 - 3,2 mm.
Habitat and Distribution: The Lesser Plicate Door Snail lives in humid places on rocks and trees in deciduous and coniferous forests; outside of forests, it is also found on rocks and stones, as well as on stone walls. Contrary to the two previously mentioned species, Macrogastra plicatula prefers limestone grounds. In Schleswig-Holstein, the species is mainly found on steep slopes near springs and riparian forests.
The species is present in almost all of Europe, in the North as far as southern Scandinavia, Finland and central Russia. Isolated occurrences are also recommended in the southern Carpathians and on the Krim Peninsula. In Switzerland, Macrogastra plicatula can be found in altitudes of up to 2300 m MSL. In Schleswig-Holstein, on the other hand, the species is only found sporadically, except near the coast.
 The Plicate Door Snail (Laciniaria plicata) is part of the Baleinae subfamily. Bild: Michal Maňas. |
Common Door Snail (Alinda biplicata) (on
the general page).
Plicate Door Snail - Laciniaria plicata (Draparnaud, 1801)
Description: The shell of the Plicate Door Snail is of a brownish
colour and a slender spindle-shaped form. The parietal area of the shell mouth is
extended to a noticeable groove. The middle palatal fold is nearly parallel to the
principal fold. The moon fold (lunella) is strongly stretched and parallel to
the shell axis. The lower (columellar) lamella protrudes slightly and shortened.
The apertural rim is covered by 7 - 10 more or less distinct small folds, from
which the species derives its name. In one variation, Laciniaria plicata f. implicata Bielz,
the small folds are absent
.
Dimensions: H: 15 - 18 mm; W: 3,3 - 3,6 mm.
 Apertural view of Laciniaria plicata. Note the folds inside the aperture! Right: Laciniaria plicata: Shell picture of the dissected clausiliar and palatal view. Photo: O. Gargominy (CC 4.0). Enlarge:
Photo above - Photo right. |
 |
The distribution area of Laciniaria plicata covers central, eastern and southern Europe, from Denmark as far as the South of the Baltic States, central Russia, the Ukrainian Carpathians, Bulgaria, Piedmont, the southern Central Alps and eastern France. In Switzerland, the altitude limit of Laciniaria plicata is about 2300 m MSL. However, above 1200 m MSL, the species becomes increasingly rare. The easternmost presence of the species, according to T.G. Stojko, is at a location in the forest steppe near the town of Penza in Russia, about 550 km southwest of Moscow.
In the North, the Plicate Door Snail only occurs in a dispersed manner, for example in Denmark and on Bornholm Island (there it is more frequent), as well as in southern Sweden. In Schleswig-Holstein, the species is considered either disappeared or extinct, since observance notices are very outdated and could not be verified.
Grey Door Snail - Strigillaria cana (Held, 1836)
 Grey Door Snails (Strigillaria cana). Photo: © Sigrid Hof (Source). |
 Surface sculpture of Strigillaria cana. Slight lines running perpendicular to the shell ribs. Photo: Leon Wischenbarth (iNaturalist). |
 Strigillaria cana: Schalksburg, Württemberg (D). Photo: H. Zell (Source). Enlarge! |
The aperture is relatively large (about one fifth of the shell height) and
there is a weak palatal callus. The ultimate whorl displays a neck keel. The
lower (columellar) lamella is of a strongly brownlish colour. The moon fold
(lunella) is clearly recognisable. Only the lower palatal lamella is visible as
a weakly developed basal lamella. The clausilium plate is narrow, not bent at
the lower end
.
Dimensions: H: 16 - 19 mm; W: 3,3 - 4 mm; N: 11 - 14.
Habitat and Distribution: Strigillaria cana lives on tree trunks in moderately humid desiduous and mixed forests, also on grounds low in limestone. In the Romanian and Ukrainian Carpathians, the species is only found in submontane and lower forest zones as far up as 1300 m MSL. The Grey Door Snail does not leave the tree trunks during dry weather like other door snail species, but hides in crevices in the bark and beneath lichen. So, for example, it appears in hillside beech forests on the Swabian Alp, where it can be found on deadwood, in the leaf litter, as well as sitting on tree trunks.
The distribution area of the Grey Door Snail in Central and Eastern Europe spreads from southern Finland (only in Koli National Park) as far as northern Switzerland, the southern Carpathians and central Russia.
Threat Situation: In Austria, the Grey Door Snail is
considered critically endangered, in Germany endangered and in Switzerland vulnerable. (
see. IUCN Threat
Categories). In the state of
Baden-Württemberg it is a so-called state species, considered a "species of
particular importance for nature conservation".
Systematics: According to Sysoev & Schileyko (2009), as well as Molluscabase (s.u.), Bulgarica cana is to be placed in the genus Strigillaria.
Description,
ConchBooks).
 |
| The Homepage of Hartmut Nordsieck about Helicoidea, Cochlostoma and Clausiliidae at hnords.de |
Latest Change: 23.07.2026 (Robert Nordsieck).
