Alinda biplicata
Encyclopedia
Alinda biplicata, also known as Balea biplicata, common name
the Two lipped door snail, is a species
of air-breathing land snail
, a terrestrial
pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Clausiliidae
.
This species is rare in Great Britain. In England, it is found mainly in the London
area, almost exclusively along the River Thames
, and is particularly preserved at Isleworth Ait
. There is also a colony at Purfleet
in Essex
.
. This spoon-shaped "door" is supported by, and slides in, a series of internal shell folds, see the image below.
The weight of the adult live snail is 148.6±5.7 mg.
Common name
A common name of a taxon or organism is a name in general use within a community; it is often contrasted with the scientific name for the same organism...
the Two lipped door snail, is a species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of air-breathing land snail
Snail
Snail is a common name applied to most of the members of the molluscan class Gastropoda that have coiled shells in the adult stage. When the word is used in its most general sense, it includes sea snails, land snails and freshwater snails. The word snail without any qualifier is however more often...
, a terrestrial
Terrestrial animal
Terrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land , as compared with aquatic animals, which live predominantly or entirely in the water , or amphibians, which rely on a combination of aquatic and terrestrial habitats...
pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Clausiliidae
Clausiliidae
Clausiliidae, common name door snails, are a taxonomic family of small, very elongate, mostly left-handed, air-breathing land snails, sinistral terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks....
.
Distribution
This species is known to occur in a number of European countries and islands including:- Czech Republic
- Poland
- Slovakia
- Bulgaria
- Greece
- Switzerland
- France
- Netherlands
- Great Britain
This species is rare in Great Britain. In England, it is found mainly in the London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
area, almost exclusively along the River Thames
River Thames
The River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,...
, and is particularly preserved at Isleworth Ait
Isleworth Ait
Isleworth Ait, is a teardrop shaped island in the River Thames in England. It is on the Tideway near Isleworth in the London Borough of Hounslow, and is one of the longest aits. It lies offshore from Heron's Place, and is opposite the "London Apprentice" public house.Isleworth Ait is covered by...
. There is also a colony at Purfleet
Purfleet
Purfleet is a place in the Thurrock unitary authority in Essex, England. It is situated south of the A13 road on the River Thames and within the easterly bounds of the M25 motorway but just outside the Greater London boundary. It was within the traditional Church of England parish of West Thurrock...
in Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
.
- and other areas
Description
Like all species in this family, this snail has a clausiliumClausilium
The clausilium is a calcareous anatomical structure which is found in one group of air-breathing land snails: terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Clausiliidae, the door snails...
. This spoon-shaped "door" is supported by, and slides in, a series of internal shell folds, see the image below.
The weight of the adult live snail is 148.6±5.7 mg.