Habitats of Molluscs: Saltmarsh  and Brackish Water

Shingle banks

There are frequently shingle banks associated with saltmarsh, estuarine rivers and lagoons. Digging into the shingle around the high tide level, particularly where a flora with plants such as shrubby sea blite (Suaeda maritima) and sea purslane (Halimione portulacoides) has developed, may yield the following species:–

Gastropods :
Paludinella littorina (in south and south-west); Truncatella subcylindrica (in south); Barleeia unifasciata; Myosotella myosotis; Leucophytia bidentata .

Saltmarsh

Areas of mud and small pools associated with rivers and estuaries and colonised with many species of plant (e.g. sea purslane, Atriplex) and green algae (e.g. Vaucheria). Species which may be found include:–

Gastropods :
Assiminea grayana (in south-east and east); Peringia  ulvae; Littorina saxatilis; Myosotella myosotis.

Nudibranchs :
Alderia modesta; Limopontia depressa.

Dykes and drainage ditches

Bodies of water with a salinity ranging from 5 to 35 parts per thousand of chloride. The species found are determined by the salinity, however, they are usually drawn from the following:–

Gastropods :
Potamopyrgus antipodarum; Peringia ulvae; Hydrobia acuta neglecta; Ventrosia ventrosa; Littorina saxatilis; Onoba aculeus.

Chitons:
Lepidochitona cinereus

Nudibranchs:
Akera bullata; Haminoea naviculata

Bivalves:;
Cerastoderma glaucum; Abra tenuis