ROMSO Cyprus Knowledge Base

Xerotricha conspurcata: A Small Land Snail Species

Xerotricha conspurcata is a species of small air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial lungmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Geomitridae. This species belongs to the order Stylommatophora and is commonly referred to as the Hairy Heathen Snail.

The Xerotricha conspurcata shell grows up to 4.5 x 6.8 mm in size, with a pressed-conical housing that is 3 to 5 mm high and 5 to 8 mm wide. The thread is low-conical, the underside is curved, and the five to six turns are slightly shouldered at the periphery, forming a moderately deep seam. The shoulders are above the periphery, and the round navel is narrow, with only about 1/7 to 1/6 of the case width.

The shell's surface features faint dark bands or irregular light spots that form patterns, giving it an opaque appearance. In young animals, the casing surface is covered with fine, slightly curved hair that has since fallen off in adults, leaving behind visible hair scars. The soft body is small and light red with a black brown back and head.

The Xerotricha conspurcata's reproductive system consists of a short sperm duct opening at an acute angle into the epiphallus, which is also comparatively short compared to other snail species. The flagellum is short and thin, only about a third of the epiphallus length. This species has been found in Greece and Turkey, as well as parts of Europe.

Xerotricha conspurcata was first described by Draparnaud in 1801 and later studied by various researchers, including Gittenberger (1991) and Bank et al. (2017). The species is currently listed on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as Xerotricha Mariae.

The Hairy Heathen Snail's distribution includes parts of Europe, with specific records in Greece and Turkey. Its habitat likely consists of heathlands or similar environments where it can be found among vegetation.