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Myosotella myosotis (Mouse eared snail)
Copyright © 2007
Mary Jo Adams
A species native to Europe, this snail was first found on the West Coast of the United States near San Francisco in 1871. Its presence was noted in the state of Washington in 1927 when it was reported in the Strait of Juan de Fuca. It is a small snail, with a maximum length of about 0.3 inches (8 mm) and is chestnut brown in color. Watch for it on the underside of stranded driftwood above the high tide line where it is often found in association with a smaller native snail (Assiminea californica) and in the substrate under mats of pickleweed (Salicornia). Myosotella myosotis has a lung rather than gills. It has also been known under the scientific names Ovatella myosotis and Phytia setifer. Other common names for it include mouse eared snail, mouse eared marshsnail, and salt marsh snail.
This
page was created by Mary Jo Adams on 10/26/07.
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