Vertiginidae

Vertiginidae is a family of minute air-breathing land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropods in the superfamily Pupilloidea. The family includes numerous genera, with Vertigo being the best-known and the type genus. Members are among the smallest land snails, often only a few millimeters in diameter.

Shells in Vertiginidae are typically high-spired and cylindrical or conical, with surfaces ranging from smooth to finely sculptured. Apertures are small, and the outer lip is usually thin. In many species the aperture contains internal lamellae or folds, though this feature varies across genera.

These snails inhabit leaf litter, moss, and humus in forests, woodlands, and sometimes grasslands. They require consistently moist microhabitats and are most active in wet conditions. They have a cosmopolitan distribution, with the greatest diversity in temperate and tropical forested regions and on some islands.

Vertiginidae are detritivores and microherbivores, feeding on microfungi, algae, and decaying organic matter. Their small size and moisture dependence make them sensitive to desiccation and habitat disturbance. Reproduction is generally sexual, with many species being hermaphroditic; eggs are laid in moist soil or leaf litter.

Taxonomy places Vertiginidae among Pupilloidea; the family comprises several genera, led by Vertigo. Because many species are small and cryptic, taxa are frequently revised and new species described from microhabitats. Some species have restricted ranges and are of conservation concern due to habitat loss and climate change.