Myosotella myosotis, common name the mouse ear snail, is a European species of small salt marsh snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusc in the family Ellobiidae.
Description For terms see gastropod shell.
The shell varies from yellowish to brownish in color and can be either smooth or finely striated, with a shiny surface. It typically features 7 to 8 slightly convex whorls. The apertural margin is white, often accompanied by a white layer on the parietal side. The parietalis is robust, horizontal, and often accompanied by a smaller secondary parietalis. The columellaris is also strong, and the umbilicus is usually covered. The form denticulata is characterized by 3 to 6 short, thin folds resembling droplets near the palatal margin of the inner lip.
Molecular phylogenetics The complete nucleotide sequence of the mitochondrial genome of Myosotella myosotis has been available since 2008.Grande C., Templado J. & Zardoya R. (2008). "Evolution of gastropod mitochondrial genome arrangements". BMC Evolutionary Biology 2008, 8: 61.
Distribution As a native snail this species is found in the following countries and islands: Belgium Netherlands Great Britain Ireland Mediterranean Sea coasts (Spain, Italy, Istria, Dalmatia, Albania, Greece, West and South Turkey), West European coasts to Ireland and Scotland, Black Sea, North Germany (and Baltic Sea).Welter-Schultes F. W. (2012). European non-marine molluscs, a guide for species identification. Bestimmungsbuch für europäische Land- und Süsswassermollusken. Planet Poster Editions, Göttingen. . 72 (range map Europe)
As an exotic, this species is found on: The West Coast of North America The East Coast of North America
Description The maximum recorded shell length is 12 mm.Welch J. J. (2010). "The "Island Rule" and Deep-Sea Gastropods: Re-Examining the Evidence". PLoS ONE 5(1): e8776. .
Habitat This species lives right at sea level (at the highest high-tide level), and so therefore the minimum recorded depth for this species is 0 m, and the maximum recorded depth is 0 m.
Synonyms
Alexia (Auricula) myosotis (Draparnaud, 1801) Alexia (Auricula) myosotis var. hiriarti de Folin, 1889 Alexia (Leuconia) micheli var. elongata Pallary, 1900 Alexia (Leuconia) micheli var. incrassata Pallary, 1900 Alexia algerica Bourguignat, 1864 Alexia balearica Dohrn & Heynemann, 1862 Alexia cossoni Bourguignat, 1887 Alexia enhalia Bourguignat, 1887 Alexia loweana Pfeiffer, 1866 Alexia myosotis (Draparnaud, 1801) Alexia myosotis var. varicosa Fenaux, 1939 Alexia obsoleta Pfeiffer, 1854 Alexia parva Locard, 1893 Alexia pechaudi Bourguignat, 1887 Auricula (Alexia) meridionalis Brazier, 1877 Auricula biasolettiana Küster, 1844 Auricula botteriana Philippi, 1846 Auricula ciliata Morelet, 1845 Auricula dubia Cantraine, 1835 Auricula kutschigiana Küster, 1844 Auricula meridionalis Brazier, 1877 Auricula microstoma Küster, 1844 Auricula myosotis Draparnaud, 1801 Auricula myosotis var. adriatica Küster, 1844 Auricula myosotis var. elongata Küster, 1844 Auricula tenella Menke, 1830 Auricula veneta Martens, 1884 Auricula venetiensis Megerle von Mühlfeld in Villa A. & G.B., 1841 Auricula vespertina Morelet, 1860 Auricula watsoni Wollaston, 1878 Melampus turritus W. G. Binney, 1859(junior synonym) Melampus gracilis Lowe, 1832 Myosotella denticulata (Montagu, 1803) · Ovatella myosotis (Draparnaud, 1801) Ovatella myosotis salentina Palazzi & Curini Galletti, 1982 Phytia letourneuxi var. tanousi Pallary, 1912 Phytia myosotis (Draparnaud, 1801) Tralia (Alexia) myosotis (Draparnaud, 1801) Tralia (Alexia) myosotis f. junior Dall, 1885 Voluta denticulata Montagu, 1803 (original combination) Voluta ingens W. Turton, 1819 Voluta reflexa W. Turton, 1819 Voluta ringens W. Turton, 1819
References
Draparnaud. 1801. Tableau des Mollusques terrestres et fluviatiles de la France. Montpellier et Paris, 116 p,
External links Myosotella myosotis at Animalbase Myosotella denticulata at Mollusc Ireland IUCN Red List Image and info in Dutch at: Info as an exotic: