Skeneidae

Skeneidae is a family of small, freshwater snails with a gill and an operculum, an external shell. They are aquatic gastropod mollusks in the order Littorinimorpha. The family was named after the Scottish naturalist John Edward Gray, who described the type genus Skenea in 1840. Skeneidae are found in various freshwater habitats, including rivers, streams, and ponds, across the world. They are known for their distinctive shell shape, which is typically elongated and spiral in form. The family includes around 15 genera and over 100 species. Skeneidae are herbivorous, feeding on algae and other plant material. They play a role in the ecosystem by controlling algal growth and contributing to the nutrient cycle. The family is of interest to scientists studying the evolution of freshwater mollusks and their adaptations to aquatic environments.