Narrow-mouthed whorl snail - Vertigo angustior

Physical Characteristics & Habitat:
Whorl snails are tiny snails with outgrowths known as 'teeth' at the entrances to their shells, with these teeth designed to protect inside the shell from predators. The arrangement of these teeth is the key way to identify different whorl snail species apart. Narrow-mouthed whorl snails (fig. 1) are generally found in areas of dune/coastal grassland or marshland (Buglife, no date).

Range & Distribution:
Along the Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire coast this snail has only been recorded near Stonehaven, at two areas close to each other known as Garron Point and Red Man Bay (fig. 2).  These are the most northern populations in the UK (NatureScot, 2005), with an approximate density of 2750 snails per m2 at Garron Point and 1500 snails per m2 at Red Man Bay (Killeen, Willing & Moorkens, 2019). Its only other known location in recent years in Scotland is another coastal site, White Port on the Solway.

Factors affecting Narrow-Mouthed Whorl Snail:
Change or loss of habitat are one of the biggest factors affecting the populations of narrow-mouthed whorl snails, particularly natural processes such as habitat succession or coastal erosion (Littlewood & Stockan, 2013). Change and decrease in water quality is also a threat to these snails (Buglife, n.d.).

Conservation Status:
UK Biodiversity Action Plan: Priority Species (BRIG, 2007)
Scottish Biodiversity List: Priority Species (NatureScot, 2020)

Killeen, Willing & Moorkens (2019) found that White Port, is no longer a likely location to find these snails, so this means the Aberdeenshire sites are very important for this species in Scotland.

Conservation Efforts:
Garron Point is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) in part due to the presence of the narrow-mouthed whorl snail population (NatureScot, 2005; NatureScot, 2008), so the area where the snails are located is protected under the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 and the Habitats Regulations (1994).