common bubble snail vs Common Periwinkle

Akera bullata compared with Vinca minor

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	common bubble snail	Common Periwinkle
Kingdom	Animalia (Animals)	Plantae (Plants)
Phylum	Mollusca (Mollusks)	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)
Class	Gastropoda (Gastropoda)	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)
Order	Aplysiida (Aplysiida)	Gentianales (Gentianales)
Family	Akeridae	Apocynaceae
Genus	Akera	Vinca
Species	Akera bullata	Vinca minor

Conservation Status

common bubble snail

LC — Least Concern

Common Periwinkle

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	common bubble snail	Common Periwinkle
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

common bubble snail

Habitat

Typically found in terrestrial and aquatic habitats including forests and freshwater.

Range

Distributed across Denmark, Norway, Portugal, and Sweden.

Common Periwinkle

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial habitats from tropical forests to temperate regions.

Range

Widely distributed across Africa (South Africa), Asia (Armenia, Japan, Turkey), Europe (18 countries), North America (Canada, Mexico, United States), Oceania and the Pacific (Australia), and South America (Brazil).

common bubble snail

The common bubble snail (<em>Akera bullata</em>) is a marine gastropod mollusc found in the coastal waters of Denmark, Norway, Portugal, and Sweden. This species typically inhabits terrestrial and aquatic environments including forests and freshwater-adjacent marine areas, often occurring in shallow subtidal and intertidal zones of temperate European seas. It is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. As a member of the family Akeridae, the common bubble snail is characterized by its thin, fragile shell and its ability to swim briefly by flapping its large, wing-like parapodia. The species often forages on algae and detritus in sandy and muddy seafloor habitats, particularly in sheltered bays and estuaries. The common bubble snail typically aggregates in large numbers during the spawning season, producing gelatinous egg masses. Biological traits of this species remain poorly documented in the scientific literature.

Common Periwinkle

<em>Vinca minor</em>, known as the common periwinkle or lesser periwinkle, is a trailing evergreen subshrub in the family Apocynaceae, widely recognised by its glossy dark-green leaves and distinctive violet-blue, five-petalled flowers. Native to central and southern Europe, it has been extensively introduced and naturalised across a remarkably wide geographic range, with established populations documented across Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania, and South America, making it one of the more globally distributed ornamental escapees. The species typically colonises woodland edges, hedgerows, roadsides, and disturbed ground, often forming dense ground-covering mats that can suppress native vegetation. <em>Vinca minor</em> is tolerant of shade and a variety of soil types, contributing to its success as both a garden plant and an invasive species in some regions. It is assessed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List given its vast distribution and adaptability. In many countries outside its native range, it is considered invasive. Biological traits such as average lifespan, precise growth dimensions, and detailed physiological parameters remain poorly documented in the scientific literature. The species contains alkaloids including vincamine, which have been investigated for pharmaceutical applications.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 4 countries:

🇩🇰 Denmark 🇳🇴 Norway 🇵🇹 Portugal 🇸🇪 Sweden