This species is endemic to Austria. It lives on certain mountain tops in the Eastern Alps, in limestone habitats, e.g. the Dürrnstein, Ötscher and Gesäuse Mountains. It often lives crowded, in moss, in rock crevices.
Drawing of shell of Cylindrus obtusus from its original description by Draparnaud in 1805.
Ecology
The lifespan of Cylindrus obtusus is probably several years.[3]
C. obtusus is one of the most prominent endemic snail species of the Eastern Alps. In the easternmost snail populations there is strong evidence for selfing (self-fertilization) as indicated by microsatellite data.[4] In eastern populations, compared to western populations, mucous gland structures employed in sexual reproduction are highly variable and deformed suggesting that in selfing organisms the functionality of these structures is reduced.[4]
^Draparnaud J.-P.-R. 1805. Histoire naturelle des mollusques terrestres et fluviatiles de la France. Ouvrage posthume. Avec XIII planches. pp. [1-9], j-viij [= 1-8], 1-134, [Pl. 1-13]. Paris, Montpellier. (Plassan, Renaud).
^ abBisenberger A., Baumgartner G., Kleewein D. & Sattmann H. (1999). "Untersuchungen zur Populationsökologie von Cylindrus obtusus (Drap. 1805) (Pulmonata, Helicidae)". Annalen des Naturhistorischen Museums Wien101B: 453-464. PDF.
^ abKruckenhauser L, Haring E, Tautscher B, Cadahía L, Zopp L, Duda M, Harl J, Sattmann H. Indication for selfing in geographically separated populations and evidence for Pleistocene survival within the Alps: the case of Cylindrus obtusus (Pulmonata: Helicidae). BMC Evol Biol. 2017 Jun 13;17(1):138. doi: 10.1186/s12862-017-0977-0. PMID 28610555; PMCID: PMC5470289
