Alpine whorl snail vs common whorl snail

Vertigo alpestris compared with Vertigo pygmaea

Key Differences

• Alpine whorl snail is Least Concern while common whorl snail is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Alpine whorl snail	common whorl snail
Kingdom same	Animalia (animal)	Animalia (animal)
Phylum same	Mollusca (mollusques)	Mollusca (mollusques)
Class same	Gastropoda (Gastropoda)	Gastropoda (Gastropoda)
Order same	Stylommatophora (Stylommatophora)	Stylommatophora (Stylommatophora)
Family same	Vertiginidae	Vertiginidae
Genus same	Vertigo	Vertigo
Species	Vertigo alpestris	Vertigo pygmaea

Evolutionary Relationship

Alpine whorl snail and common whorl snail share a common ancestor at the Genus level: Vertigo.

Conservation Status

Alpine whorl snail

LC — Least Concern

common whorl snail

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Alpine whorl snail	common whorl snail
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Alpine whorl snail

Habitat

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

Range

Distributed across Denmark, France, Italy, Norway, and Sweden.

common whorl snail

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.

Alpine whorl snail

The Alpine whorl snail (Vertigo alpestris) is a species in the genus Vertigo. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Typically found in terrestrial and aquatic habitats including forests and freshwater. Distributed across Denmark, France, Italy, Norway, and Sweden.

common whorl snail

<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.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 5 countries:

🇩🇰 Denmark 🇫🇷 France 🇮🇹 Italy 🇳🇴 Norway 🇸🇪 Sweden