Spermodea lamellata
Spermodea lamellata is a species of minute European land snail, a terrestrial gastropod mollusc, or micromollusc, in the family Valloniidae. Description For terms see gastropod shell. The 2-2.2 mm x 2-2.2 mm shell has a characteristic semispherical shape like a bee skep basket. The shell has 6 convex whorls which increase gradually in size. The sutures are deep. The whorls are decorated with very fine, very regular, radial ribs. These ribs function as a diffraction grating, giving the yellow shell a silky appearance. The apertural margin is simple and breaks easily. There are no folds inside the aperture. The umbilicus is narrow. Juveniles are paler with weaker ribs at the lower side, and the umbilicus relatively wider. Distribution This species occurs in areas which include: Denmark Great Britain Ireland Czech Republic Northern Germany Netherlands - extinct Norway Poland - isolated locality Portugal - isolated localities in Serra de Bussaco mountains (in Beira Alta), and in Sintra Sweden Ukraine and other areas Habitat This minute snail lives in ancient woodland. References External links Spermodea lamellata at Animalbase taxonomy,short description, distribution, biology,status (threats), images Valloniidae Gastropods described in 1830 Taxa named by John Gwyn Jeffreys