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. [1]

Myosotella myosotis
Live Myosotella myosotis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Order: Ellobiida
Family: Ellobiidae
Genus: Myosotella
Species:
M. myosotis
Binomial name
Myosotella myosotis
(Draparnaud, 1801)
Synonyms

see "List of Synonyms"

Description

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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.

 
Photo of the shell
 
Drawing of the shell

Molecular phylogenetics

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The complete nucleotide sequence of the mitochondrial genome of Myosotella myosotis has been available since 2008.[2]

Distribution

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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).[3]

As an exotic, this species is found on:

Description

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The maximum recorded shell length is 12 mm.[4]

Habitat

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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.[4]

Synonyms

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  • 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

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  1. ^ Myosotella myosotis (Draparnaud, 1801). 10 August 2024. Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species.
  2. ^ Grande C., Templado J. & Zardoya R. (2008). "Evolution of gastropod mitochondrial genome arrangements". BMC Evolutionary Biology 2008, 8: 61. doi:10.1186/1471-2148-8-61
  3. ^ Welter-Schultes F. W. (2012). European non-marine molluscs, a guide for species identification. Bestimmungsbuch für europäische Land- und Süsswassermollusken. Planet Poster Editions, Göttingen. ISBN 978-3-933922-75-5. 72 (range map Europe)
  4. ^ a b Welch J. J. (2010). "The "Island Rule" and Deep-Sea Gastropods: Re-Examining the Evidence". PLoS ONE 5(1): e8776. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0008776.
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