Nelken-Haferschmiele, Nelkenhafer vs Kleine Rissoschnecke

Aira caryophyllea compared with Rissoa parva

Key Differences

Nelken-Haferschmiele, Nelkenhafer is Endangered while Kleine Rissoschnecke is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Nelken-Haferschmiele, Nelkenhafer	Kleine Rissoschnecke
Kingdom	Plantae (Pflanzen)	Animalia (Tier)
Phylum	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)	Mollusca (Weichtiere)
Class	Liliopsida (Monocots)	Gastropoda (Schnecken)
Order	Poales (Süßgrasartige)	Littorinimorpha (Littorinimorpha)
Family	Poaceae (Grass Family)	Rissoidae
Genus	Aira	Rissoa
Species	Aira caryophyllea	Rissoa parva

Conservation Status

Nelken-Haferschmiele, Nelkenhafer

EN — Endangered

Kleine Rissoschnecke

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Nelken-Haferschmiele, Nelkenhafer	Kleine Rissoschnecke
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Nelken-Haferschmiele, Nelkenhafer

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, tropical and subtropical grasslands and savannas, and flooded grasslands and savannas, among 11 distinct biome types. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Widely distributed across Africa (Cameroon), Asia (Japan, South Korea), Europe (6 countries), North America (4 countries), Oceania and the Pacific (Australia), and South America (4 countries). Currently classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Kleine Rissoschnecke

Habitat

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

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.

Nelken-Haferschmiele, Nelkenhafer

<em>Aira caryophyllea</em>, commonly known as Common Silver Hairgrass, is a slender annual grass belonging to the family Poaceae within the order Poales. This delicate grass is currently classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, reflecting significant conservation concern despite its historically broad distribution. It is typically found across a remarkable diversity of biome types, including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, grasslands, savannas, and flooded habitats, demonstrating notable ecological versatility. Its geographic range spans multiple continents, with documented populations in Africa (Cameroon), Asia (Japan, South Korea), Europe, North America, Australia, and South America. As an annual grass, it completes its life cycle within a single growing season, reproducing via wind-dispersed seeds. The inflorescence typically bears silvery, shimmering spikelets that give the species its common name. Biological traits such as average lifespan, body dimensions, and dietary specifics follow typical patterns for annual grasses — drawing nutrients from soil through root absorption rather than consuming other organisms. The endangered status suggests populations may be declining due to habitat loss, land-use change, or invasive species pressure across parts of its range.