Round-mouthed snail
Pomatias elegans
Pomatias elegans, commonly known as the "elegant door snail," is a terrestrial species of land snail belonging to the class Gastropoda and family Pomatiidae. This small mollusk is typically found in a variety of habitats including woodlands, grasslands, and gardens across Europe, including the Comunidad Valenciana.
- Shell Description: The shell of Pomatias elegans is small, measuring around 10-20 mm in height. It has a turreted shape with 5-7 convex whorls and a narrow, pointed apex. The surface is often adorned with fine, spiral ridges.
- Color: The shell is usually a creamy beige or light brown color, sometimes with darker spiral bands or streaks.
- Habitat: Pomatias elegans is adaptable and can be found in moist environments, often under leaf litter, in hedgerows, or sheltered in crevices.
- Diet: They are detritivores, feeding on decaying plant material and fungi, which plays an essential role in nutrient cycling within their ecosystem.
- Behavior: This species is terrestrial but retains a gill to assist in respiration, showing an interesting evolutionary trait where aquatic ancestry is evident.
The presence of Pomatias elegans in the Comunidad Valenciana is indicative of the diverse terrestrial mollusk fauna in the region. It serves as a valuable ecological indicator and contributes to the biodiversity of the area.