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Post by Robert Nordsieck on Mar 27, 2006 9:12:08 GMT
Arianta arbustorum (LINNAEUS 1758)Helicigona lapicida (LINNAEUS 1758)Ena montana (DRAPARNAUD 1801)Helicodonta obvoluta (O.F. MÜLLER 1774)All of these snails have been found in the Swabian Mountains a year ago in May. Regards Robert
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Post by Deleted on Mar 27, 2006 9:56:16 GMT
Beautiful snails. Where are the Swabian mountains? did you ID those snails? you can find all of those in britain too.
although, the first one isn't a typical Arianta arbustorum, are you sure it is that? it looks more Bradybaena to me.
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Post by sezzy5889 on Mar 27, 2006 10:03:08 GMT
I think it is a arianta abustorum, if you took away the last whorl which doesn't appear to have any pattern to it it does look like one, you can see the speckles, and also the body is very dark typical for an arianta :-)
am i right in saying the Swabian mountains are in Germany?
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Post by Robert Nordsieck on Mar 27, 2006 11:08:25 GMT
The Swabian Mountains (Schwäbische Alb in German) are a montain range in South Western Germany east of the Black Forest. Only in contrary to the Black Forest, that consists of granite in the south and of sandstone in the north, the Swabian Mountains consist of different types of limestone. Where it is not to dry (and it ceratinly wasn't the day we went on that excursion) snails are abundant. And the snails were also very happy that day, as you can see: Arianta arbustorumI was always under the impression, it was Arianta arbustorum, didn't know there were so dark specimens of Fruticicola fruticum, which would have been the only Bradibaenid in that area. The abundance of snails is also a reason why the Swabian region in the Middle Ages became an area, where Helix pomatia snails were raised in snail gardens by the local farmers. They were even exported as far as Vienna down the Danube River by boat. Regards Robert
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Post by Deleted on Mar 27, 2006 11:15:21 GMT
Well it's not a typical A.a. they normally have more spherical, smooth shells which are more mottled, and usually have an everted lip. although the species is quite variable. or maybe it's a juvenile. I'm just saying I personally don't think it looks like a normal A.a
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Post by Robert Nordsieck on Mar 27, 2006 11:58:53 GMT
In my Falkner book it is stated: "One of the most variable snail species". There are many geographical races, the shells becoming more spherical near the coast (which is not where I found them).
I agree though, that it might also have been a juvenile because the lip isn't as prominent as it should be.
Regards Robert
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Post by Robert Nordsieck on Apr 11, 2006 13:30:07 GMT
Comparing this picture to my other pictures of Arianta arbustorum, I agree, that I was probably wrong. I will check this. Only the problem is, as I did not keep the snail, I have no possibility to further examine it.
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Post by Robert Nordsieck on Apr 11, 2006 21:29:37 GMT
Looks like I am posting to myself here, but to end the discussion:
I just got the answer to my question: A very friendly malacologist mailed me, it was most probably an unusual looking Arianta arbustorum. The snail's body is to dark for Fruticicola fruticum, besides the shell has dots. But it is most certainly a juvenile.
So that appears to be settled.
Regards Robert
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