common bubble snail vs Flat Periwinkle

Akera bullata compared with Littorina obtusata

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	common bubble snail	Flat Periwinkle
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Mollusca (Mollusks)	Mollusca (Mollusks)
Class same	Gastropoda (Gastropoda)	Gastropoda (Gastropoda)
Order	Aplysiida (Aplysiida)	Littorinimorpha (Littorinimorpha)
Family	Akeridae	Littorinidae
Genus	Akera	Littorina
Species	Akera bullata	Littorina obtusata

Evolutionary Relationship

common bubble snail and Flat Periwinkle share a common ancestor at the Class level: Gastropoda. (Gastropoda)

Conservation Status

common bubble snail

LC — Least Concern

Flat Periwinkle

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	common bubble snail	Flat 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.

Flat Periwinkle

Habitat

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

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.

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.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 3 countries:

🇩🇰 Denmark 🇳🇴 Norway 🇸🇪 Sweden