Pupilla alpicola

The shell of this species slightly larger than that of Pupilla muscorum, with slightly more prominent growth lines, around 6 not very convex whorls. The shell apex is flat (in contrast to Pupilla muscorum and Pupilla pratensis). The apertural lip is weak; the cervical callus is weak; there are usually no teeth in the aperture, occasionally a weak parietal tooth. Note the presence of a characteristic gutter-like depression in the external surface of the last whorl, at about 1/4 of the distance from its base. (In oblique light this is also visible in the aperture as a narrow, delicate ridge).[3]

The height of the shell is 2.8–3.3 mm. The width of the shell is 1.75–1.8 mm.[3]

The distribution of Pupilla alpicola includes the Alps and Carpathians.[3] Pupilla alpicola has a scattered distribution; it is rare.[3] Most of its habitats are close to alpine cattle pastures, and this means these habitats are now at risk, because traditional land management is decreasing.[3]

• Critically endangered in Germany[3]
• Vulnerable in Switzerland[3]
• Potentially threatened in Austria[3][4]
• Poland - critically endangered[5][6][7]
• Slovakia

Pupilla alpicola was listed as part of fauna of the Czech Republic for a long time, (as "probably extinct" in Bohemia and critically endangered (CR) in Moravia).[8] After a very similar taxon Pupilla pratensis was elevated to its species level in 2009,[4] the revision showed that Pupilla alpicola does not live in the Czech Republic and all of the supposed records from that country are actually Pupilla pratensis.[9]

Pupilla alpicola occurs in moss, within wet meadows in high alpine regions, mostly in calcareous fens.[3] In Switzerland it lives between 900 and 2500 m altitude.[3]

This article incorporates public domain text from the reference.[3]

• Media related to Pupilla alpicola at Wikimedia Commons