Invertebrates
Great Pond Snail
Lymnaea stagnalis
Beneath the surface of a weedy pond, a great pond snail glides upside down along the silvery film of the water, its pointed shell hanging like a pendant.
Overview
The great pond snail, Lymnaea stagnalis, is a Least Concern air-breathing snail of ponds, lakes, ditches, and slow rivers across Europe, northern Asia, and North America. Its upside-down gliding and its role as a laboratory model for learning and memory make it one of the most studied snails in the world.
A snail in the laboratory
Neuroscientists use the great pond snail because its nervous system has a small number of large nerve cells, which are far easier to study than the neurons of a mammal.
Status
Least Concern, widespread and common.
Great Pond Snail: common questions
Does the great pond snail breathe air?
Yes, it has a lung rather than gills, and comes to the surface to take in air, though it can also take oxygen through its skin.
Why do scientists study this snail?
It has large, easily studied nerve cells, so it is widely used to study how neurons work and how animals learn and remember.
Why does it glide upside down?
It often glides along the underside of the water surface, held up by the surface film, as it feeds and comes up for air.
Where is the great pond snail found?
It lives in ponds, lakes, ditches, and slow rivers across Europe, northern Asia, and North America.