Gemeine Kugelschnecke vs Common Goldspeck

Akera bullata compared with Candelariella vitellina

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Gemeine Kugelschnecke	Common Goldspeck
Kingdom	Animalia (Tier)	Fungi (Pilze)
Phylum	Mollusca (Weichtiere)	Ascomycota (Schlauchpilze)
Class	Gastropoda (Schnecken)	Candelariomycetes (Candelariomycetes)
Order	Aplysiida (Aplysiida)	Candelariales (Candelariales)
Family	Akeridae	Candelariaceae
Genus	Akera	Candelariella
Species	Akera bullata	Candelariella vitellina

Conservation Status

Gemeine Kugelschnecke

LC — Least Concern

Common Goldspeck

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Gemeine Kugelschnecke	Common Goldspeck
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Gemeine Kugelschnecke

Habitat

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

Range

Distributed across Denmark, Norway, Portugal, and Sweden.

Common Goldspeck

Habitat

Native to Europe and North America and South America, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Widely distributed across Europe (4 countries), North America (United States), and South America (Colombia).

Gemeine Kugelschnecke

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 Goldspeck

<em>Candelariella vitellina</em>, commonly known as common goldspeck, is a crustose lichen belonging to the genus Candelariella within the family Candelariaceae. This species inhabits ecosystems across Europe and North America and South America, reflecting a broad geographic tolerance suited to its saxicolous lifestyle. Its known range includes populations in four European countries, the United States in North America, and Colombia in South America. The species is assessed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, indicating that current population trends do not suggest elevated extinction risk. Common goldspeck typically colonizes exposed rock surfaces, bark, and other firm substrates in open environments where light availability supports its photosynthetic activity. Biological traits of this species remain poorly documented in the scientific literature.