11. Bythinella austriaca (Frauenfeld, 1857)

Findings in Serbia.

Bythinella austriaca: Filipović (1954); Tomić (1959).

Common name. Austrian spring snail.

Morphology. Minute snails (ovoid cylindric shell up to 3 mm high). It has 3.5–4.5 regularly increasing whorls separated by deep suture almost perpendicular to the columella and blunt apex. More details in Glöer (2002: 164, figs 198–201).

Distribution and ecology. Central European species preferring cold clean waters with increased carbonate levels (in springs and adjacent brook systems) (Sturm 2016). In Serbia, it has been reported from few springs (Vrujci, Čočića vrelo and Široke Luke Springs) from central and eastern Serbia.

Other remarks. A wider distribution range of this species, accompanied with quite narrow ecological preferences, low dispersal ability and highly isolated habitats (Benke et al. 2009; Beran 2010; Sturm 2016), brings possibility for intraspecific diversification. In that regard Glöer (2002) has distinguished four subspecies. On the IUCN Red List it has been assessed as LC (Fehér et al. 2010).