Snail Attempting to Eat Dragonfly Nymph

This dragonfly nymph approached the snail as I was photographing it and I thought: "Oh no! Don't eat the snail!" But, the reverse happened. The snail went after the dragonfly, they struggled, the dragonfly twitched with effort, and then finally, the dragonfly broke free. It sat in the bottom of the tank, upside down, for quite awhile before it started to move around again. I don't know what the snail intended, but it was a weird situation as dragonfly nymphs would usually be the predator in this scenario.

Habitat: Caught in a pond and photographed at home.

comments (6)

Ferdy Christant

Lion

What the hell, Christine. That is truly weird.
The photo itself it incredible by the way, show that weird mouth part of the dragonfly very well! Posted 5 years ago
1. Christine Young
  
  Lion
  
  Thanks! It was such a weird thing to see! Posted 5 years ago

Flown Kimmerling

Lion

SPECTACULAR! Posted 5 years ago
1. Christine Young
  
  Lion
  
  Thanks, it was really cool :) Posted 5 years ago

Paul Dirksen

Lion

Subleem shot Christine. Posted 5 years ago
1. Christine Young
  
  Lion
  
  Thanks! Posted 5 years ago

The Physella acuta

''Physella acuta'' is a species of small, left-handed or sinistral, air-breathing freshwater snail, an aquatic gastropod mollusk in the family Physidae. Common names include European physa, tadpole snail, bladder snail, and acute bladder snail. In addition, ''Physa acuta'', ''Physa heterostropha'' and ''Physa integra'' are synonyms of ''Physella acuta''.

Info 6 0

Similar species: Hygrophila

Species identified by Christine Young