Valve Snail

Valve Snail - Valvata piscinalis

Alternative names
Common Valve Snail
Description

Size 3.5 to 5 mm x 4 to 6 mm - almost globular. Shell whitish yellow to greenish grey or brown, with narrow umbilicus, aperture almost circular, slightly angled. The animal itself is a dull yellow colour with long, almost transparent tentacles.

Identification difficulty
Habitat

Clear stillwaters or in slowly moving water bodies.

When to see it

All year round.

Life History

Feeds on detritus.

UK Status

Widespread and fairly frequent in Britain.

VC55 Status

Infrequent, or possibly under recorded, in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020

UK Map

Additional images

All NatureSpot records