Stylinella

Stylinella is a genus of small, often brightly colored, freshwater snails with a smooth shell, belonging to the family Lymnaeidae. The genus was first described by the German zoologist Karl Friedrich Wilhelm Ludwig Fritsch in 1877. Stylinella species are commonly found in temperate and tropical regions around the world, inhabiting a variety of freshwater habitats such as ponds, lakes, and slow-moving rivers.

The genus Stylinella includes several species, with the most well-known being Stylinella auricularia, commonly known as the eared pond snail. This species is characterized by its distinctive ear-like appendages, which are actually modified gills, and its smooth, glossy shell. Other species in the genus may have different shell shapes and colors, but they all share the common features of a smooth shell and a lack of an operculum.

Stylinella snails are herbivorous, feeding on algae and other plant material. They play an important role in their ecosystems by controlling algal growth and contributing to nutrient cycling. Due to their small size and often brightly colored shells, Stylinella snails are popular among aquarium enthusiasts and are commonly kept in freshwater aquariums.

The taxonomy of the genus Stylinella has been a subject of debate among taxonomists, with some species being reclassified or synonymized with other genera. However, the genus remains a well-recognized and widely studied group of freshwater snails.