Small ramshorn snails (Gyraulus)
Gyraulus spp. · Aquatic life
Whole animal · Photo: Михаил Языков / CC BY
Also called Gyraulus, Ash gyro, Flexed gyro, Disc gyro
How to identify Small ramshorn snails (Gyraulus)
- Tiny flat coiled shell, usually under 1/4 inch across
- Few whorls that widen quickly; outer edge rounded, not sharply keeled
- Thin, light tan to gray, often slightly see through
- No trapdoor (operculum); long thin tentacles
Similar species
Larger ramshorn snails (Planorbella and Helisoma) grow to about 1 inch and have thick, tightly packed whorls. Keeled ramshorns (Promenetus) have a sharp edge around the shell. Valve snails have a trapdoor.
Profile
| Season | Present all year; numbers build in summer. |
|---|---|
| Starts | Breed as water warms in spring and summer |
| Depth | Shallow plant beds |
| How it spreads or reproduces | Eggs on plants; carried on plants, birds and equipment |
| Habitat | Plant beds, algae mats and bottom debris of ponds, lakes, marshes, ditches and slow streams. |
Why it matters in a lake
Common, harmless grazers of algae and fish food. They can serve as hosts for some trematode parasites.
Where it is found
- Idaho: Common
- Oregon: Common
- Wyoming: Common
Classification
| Kingdom | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Mollusca |
| Class | Gastropoda |
| Order | Hygrophila |
| Family | Planorbidae |
| Scientific name | Gyraulus spp. |
Pond snails
Physid snails
Ramshorn snails
Fingernail clams
Floaters (native mussels)
Western pearlshell
New Zealand mudsnail
Asian clam
Chinese mystery snail
Red-rimmed melaniaNeed a hand?
Found it in your lake?
Send us a photo and we will identify it and tell you what it means for your lake.
Idaho / Wyoming (208) 501-4531Oregon (541) 280-0596