Vertigo moulinsiana

Vertigo moulinsiana is a rare species of land snail. In Poland, it is under strict species protection. On the Red List of Threatened and Endangered Animals in Poland and in the Polish Red Book of Animals, it is classified as CR (Critically Endangered). In the IUCN Red List, it holds the status VU (Vulnerable). It is also listed in Annex II of the EU Habitats Directive, which includes species of Community interest whose conservation requires the designation of Special Areas of Conservation.

This species occurs exclusively in open, wet habitats with calcareous (limestone-rich) soils. It is highly sensitive and does not tolerate any human interference in its environment. It has never been found in habitats that are regularly mown or used for livestock grazing.

Among all species of the Vertigo genus, Vertigo moulinsiana is the largest, with its shell reaching over 2 mm in height!

This is yet another species being reintroduced to the Delta area by experts from the Institute of Nature Conservation of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Kraków.