Habitats of Molluscs: Ponds

Species frequently associated with ponds in Britain.

Pond

For our present purposes, ponds are considered to be half acre or less; most are of the order of 350 sq. m. They may be subdivided into those through which a stream of water runs perennially or in winter, and which communicate with river systems ("running") and those without any direct communication with another watery habitat ("closed").

Those ponds which usually dry out in summer have their own community, which is also dealt with below.

The nomenclature used in the list follows "An annoted list of the non-marine mollusca of Britain and Ireland."  by Dr. Roy Anderson,  2005 in Journal of Conchology Vol. 38: Part 6 pages 607– 637, which may also be accessed from the menu to the left under 'British Non-marine List'

Species likely to be found in "closed" ponds include:– (Some of these species may also occur in "running" ponds, as will many of those normally found in lowland rivers with which they communicate)

Gastropods:
Acroloxus lacustris, Anisus leucostoma, Bathyomphalus contortus, Bithynia tentaculata, Gyraulus albus, G. crista, Hippeutis complanatus, Lymnaea fusca, L. stagnalis, Physa fontinalis, Planorbarius corneus, Planorbis planorbis, Radix balthica.

Bivalves:
Musculium lacustre, Pisidium casertanum, P. milium, P. nitidum, P. obtusale, P. personatum, P. subtruncatum, Sphaerium corneum.

Species usually restricted to ponds which dry out in summer. Some of these may also occur in other habitats of temporary water, such as ditches :–

Gastropods:
Anisus leucostoma, Aplexa hypnorum, Galba truncatula, Lymnaea fusca, Omphiscola glabra, Planorbis planorbis, Radix balthica.

Bivalves:
Pisidium casertanum, P. personatum, P. obtusale.

Temporary Pond