Euspira catena
Found all around the British Isles and from Norway to the Mediterranean.
The map provided here shows the distribution of the species based on Conchological Society data.
Euspira nitida (Donovan, 1803), but E. nitida is smaller and generally lives in deeper water though it can on occasion be found on the lower shore. In addition, E. nitida has a short and blunt spire and a distinctly flat profile, with the outer lip meeting the last whorl, tangentially. The two species have similar distributions.
- Up to 35mm in height;
- The outer lip meets the last whorl at right angles;
- Whorls tumid with distinct sutures giving a stepped profile; and,
- Large, deep, round, umbilicus.
Taxon details available from MolluscaBase (AphiaID 140528):
Euspira catena (da Costa, 1778)
For the species account provided by the Marine Species Indentification Portal click here or, for that from the Marine Life Information Network click here.
The UK National Biodiversity Network (NBN) Atlas entry for the species can be accessed via this link.
Part of the original description from, Da Costa, Mendes E. (1778):