Pahranagat pebblesnail

Fluminicola merriami is a rare freshwater snail is endemic to the hot springs in Pahranagat Valley and White River Valley in the U.S. state of Nevada. Occasionally, the species is classified in the genus Pyrgulopsis. It is named after Clinton Hart Merriam.

Description

Fluminicola merriami reaches a case height of 3 mm and a case diameter of 2.5 mm. The housing is small, spherical wound, but narrow significantly and deep scar shaped. The spindle is low - conical and pointed. There are four windings, which are stepped slightly below the seam. The upper edge portion is quite flattened. The edge portion and the base are curved. The smooth surface is horn-colored. The aperture is slanted, oval, rounded, angled at the top and wide at the bottom. The upper portion of the inner lip to adhere to the Körperwindung. The lower portion is bent without a thickening of the callus.

Dissemination

By 1973 Fluminicola merriami was still common in the hot water springs of Ash Springs to find the Hot Creek, on Moormon River and the Moon River, in the Crystal Spring and in the Hiko Spring. In a search operation in the year 1995, the species was observed neither in the Crystal Spring still in Hiko Spring.

Status

The small distribution area makes the nature of environmental change very vulnerable. Since 1973, a decrease of stocks can be observed, which is due to the insertion of the needle - screw crown ( Melanoides tuberculata ). The Endangered Species Act Fluminicola merriami is listed threatened with extinction in the category.