Punctum pygmaeum

Punctum pygmaeum is a species of very small, air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Punctidae, the dot snails.

Punctum pygmaeum
Five views of a shell of Punctum pygmaeum
Conservation status
Secure (NatureServe)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Gastropoda
Order:	Stylommatophora
Family:	Punctidae
Genus:	Punctum
Species:	P. pygmaeum
Binomial name
Punctum pygmaeum (Draparnaud, 1801)
Synonyms
Helix pygmæa Draparnaud, 1801

Shell description

For terms see gastropod shell. The shell is very small, 1.2-1.6 mm in width.

The 0.6-0.8 x 1.2-1.6 mm shell is almost flat, extremely densely and regularly striated, appearing silky shiny light horny brown. There are 3-3.5 moderately convex whorls, the aperture is rounded, with a thin margin which is not reflected and without a lip. The umbilicus is wide (25% of shell diameter).

Habitat

These gastropods are commonly found in damp, dim, and undisturbed areas including the margins or wetlands, wet woodland, and leaf-littered forests. They may also live in mossy suburban gardens. They commonly lay their eggs underneath damp soil or rocks.

Distribution

This species occurs in countries and islands including:

• Czech Republic
• Great Britain
• Ireland
• Slovakia
• Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland
• Poland
• Ukraine
• Netherlands
• Latvia
• Bulgaria
• United States
• and other areas

External links

• Punctum pygmaeum at Animalbase taxonomy, short description, distribution, biology, status (threats), images
• Punctum pygmaeum images at Encyclopedia of Life