Gemeine Windelschnecke vs Wolf

Vertigo pygmaea compared with Canis lupus

Key Differences

• Gemeine Windelschnecke is Near Threatened while Wolf is Critically Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Gemeine Windelschnecke	Wolf
Kingdom same	Animalia (Tier)	Animalia (Tier)
Phylum	Mollusca (Weichtiere)	Chordata (Chordatiere)
Class	Gastropoda (Schnecken)	Mammalia (Säugetiere)
Order	Stylommatophora (Landlungenschnecken)	Carnivora (Raubtiere)
Family	Vertiginidae	Canidae (Dogs & Wolves)
Genus	Vertigo	Canis (Dogs & Wolves)
Species	Vertigo pygmaea	Canis lupus

Evolutionary Relationship

Gemeine Windelschnecke and Wolf share a common ancestor at the Kingdom level: Animalia. (Tier)

Conservation Status

Gemeine Windelschnecke

NT — Near Threatened

Wolf

CR — Critically Endangered

Population: ~300.0K

Trend: Stable →

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Gemeine Windelschnecke	Wolf
Diet	—	Carnivore
Average Lifespan	—	13 years
Average Length	—	1.6 m
Average Weight	—	45.0 kg

Habitat & Geographic Range

Gemeine Windelschnecke

Habitat

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

Range

Found across Europe (9 countries) and North America (United States). Listed as Near Threatened, this species requires ongoing monitoring to prevent population decline.

Wolf

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, deserts and xeric shrublands, and tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests, among 13 distinct biome types. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Widely distributed across Africa (Seychelles), Asia (Japan), Europe (5 countries), North America (7 countries), Oceania and the Pacific (Marshall Islands, Vanuatu), and South America (5 countries). Currently classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Gemeine Windelschnecke

<em>Vertigo pygmaea</em>, commonly known as the common whorl snail, is a minute land snail in the family Vertiginidae, listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List, reflecting documented population declines attributable to habitat loss, agricultural intensification, and wetland drainage across its European and North American range. The species occurs across much of Europe and parts of the United States, typically inhabiting short-sward calcareous grasslands, chalk and limestone downlands, damp meadows, and the bases of grassy slopes where the vegetation structure is open and low-growing. <em>Vertigo pygmaea</em> is among the smallest terrestrial mollusks, with a shell typically measuring only 1.5–2 mm in height — a feature shared by all members of the genus Vertigo. Despite its tiny size, the shell is complex, with multiple internal tooth-like lamellae visible within the aperture that are used in species identification. The species typically feeds on decaying plant material, algae, and fungi associated with soil and leaf litter microhabitats. It requires specific microhabitat conditions including moderate soil moisture and an abundance of calcium for shell formation. Biological traits including average lifespan, precise shell dimensions, and mass remain poorly documented in standardized databases. Conservation efforts for <em>Vertigo pygmaea</em> typically focus on maintaining and restoring calcareous grassland habitats through appropriate grazing management regimes.

Wolf

The most widely distributed wild canid, gray wolves range from North America across Eurasia in diverse habitats including tundra, forests, and grasslands. Highly social animals living in family packs led by a dominant breeding pair. As keystone predators, wolves regulate prey populations and profoundly shape ecosystem structure, as demonstrated by their reintroduction in Yellowstone. Once heavily persecuted, populations are recovering in many regions.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 5 countries:

🇧🇪 Belgium 🇩🇰 Denmark 🇳🇴 Norway 🇸🇪 Sweden 🇺🇸 United States