Dear all,
When sampling in the field (Zeeland in the Netherlands) I found a number of these sea snails. They seem to be periwinkles. However, they are smaller and more pointy than the common periwinkles (Littorina litterorea). This leeds me to believe this is a different species. See the photographs.
The length (n=6) of the shell is on average 12.0 mm (SD: 1.2 mm) and the width is 9.2 mm (SD: 0.7 mm)
Does anybody know this particular species?
Thanks you very much for your help in advance.
Regards, Jim
Have you tried http://waarneming.nl/search_advanced.php?q=Littorina ?
Erik Toorman
Dear Erik,
yes I did look at that website and others. But, I found it difficult to tease apart the little differences between some species. I don't have a lot of experience and not sure what parts of the shell can be used to get a good determination.
But thanks though for pointing me at this website.
Regards, Jim
Dear Jim,
That's appear very similar to a Mediterranean species, "Nassarius mutabilis". Anyway 1-I am not a taxonomist 2- Nassarius mutabilis does not live in the intertidal zone. 3- Nassarius is endemic of the Mediterranean sea....... Check the family, "Nassaridae".
Best
Fabio
You can always post them on the website waarneming.nl and the species group list moderator, Frans IJsselstijn, may help you further.
Erik
I think I’ve an answer to my question. I got many reactions telling me it is most probably Littorina saxatilis (Rough periwinkle). I got some good tips and tricks how to determinate the species and now convinced this is indeed the species. Still I’m a bit surprised I found this species in large numbers between the Spartina vegetation as I though this species was tight to more rocky environments. But, I got interesting references referring to the use of Spartina communities by this periwinkle (http://www.marlin.ac.uk/species/detail/1649).
My thanks go out to Louise Firth, Sil Nieuwhof, Allert Bijleveld, Eric Toorman, Michael Zettler & Marc Silberberger who contacted me and help me find the answer! It is much appreciated!
Regards, Jim
It is Littorina saxatilis. We have here in NW Spain different morphotipes. It's very variable in shapes, sizes and colors (I am sending you attached a photo of NW Spain Littorina's).
To me , these are Littorina species. no. 2and 4 seems to be Littorina scabra . many times found climbed on aquatic plants.
Just to add further agreement that these are Littorina, and they certainly do look like Littorina saxatilis from the photos
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