About Aegopinella nitidula (Draparnaud, 1805)
For explanation of descriptive terms, see gastropod shell. The shell of Aegopinella nitidula reaches a diameter of 8 mm (0.31 in) and a height of 6 mm (0.24 in). Its color is amber-reddish, and it occasionally appears whitish. The area near the umbilicus is milky white. The shell has fine striae crossed by spiral lines, which form a delicate reticular pattern. This pattern is less prominent than the one found on A. pura. The apex is strongly convex, and the shell has 3.5 to 4.5 convex whorls that increase regularly in size. The body whorl is not inflated near the aperture and does not descend. The aperture is slightly oblique, and the umbilicus is wide. The soft body of the snail is bluish-grey, with a lighter-colored sole and bluish-black upper tentacles. This shell is very similar to Aegopinella nitens, but the two species have different distributions. Aegopinella nitidula is found in northwestern Europe. Confirmed recorded occurrences of this species include, among other regions, the Czech Republic, Ukraine, Great Britain, and Ireland. It is an introduced species in Vancouver, Canada. Aegopinella nitidula prefers moderately humid to humid sites within forests, but it can also be found in a wide range of other habitats, such as hedges, rocky areas, and spring sites.
