Banbury Springs limpet facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Banbury Springs limpet |
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| Two active individuals of the Banbury Springs limpet. The one on the right is grazing. | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Idaholanx
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| Species: |
fresti
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The Banbury Springs limpet, also known as Idaholanx fresti, is a very rare type of freshwater snail. It is an aquatic gastropod mollusc and belongs to the family Lymnaeidae. This special snail is the only species in its entire genus, Idaholanx. Scientists first found this limpet in 1988. It was officially named and described in 2017.
Where Does It Live?
This unique freshwater limpet lives only in the US State of Idaho. You can find it in a small area, about 10 kilometers long, along the Snake River. It makes its home in four groups of springs that flow into the Snake River. These places are called Thousand Springs, Box Canyon Springs, Banbury Hot Springs, and Briggs Springs.
What Does It Look Like?
The Banbury Springs limpet has a pretty cinnamon red color. Its shell is shaped like a cone. These snails can grow up to 7.1 millimeters long and 6 millimeters wide. They can also be as tall as 4.3 millimeters.
Even though this snail looks a lot like other snails in the genus Lanx, scientists have studied its DNA. They found that it is actually more closely related to snails in the genus Fisherola.
Its Home and Food
The Banbury Springs limpet needs a very specific home. It lives in springs where the water flows fast. The water must also be very clean and cold. It needs water that has a lot of oxygen in it to survive.
This limpet eats dead plants that it finds in the water. It also enjoys eating tiny, single-celled organisms called diatoms.
Why Is It Endangered?
The Banbury Springs limpet is a very important species. In 1992, the United States government officially listed it as an endangered species. This means it is at high risk of disappearing forever.
As we learned, this snail only lives in four specific spring areas in Idaho. Because it lives in such a small number of places, it is very vulnerable. Its survival is threatened by several things:
- Changes to its home: When people change the natural environment of the springs, it harms the limpet's habitat.
- Less water flow: If the amount of water flowing from the springs decreases, the limpet doesn't have enough clean, oxygen-rich water.
- Water quality: Pollution or changes in the quality of the groundwater can make the water unsafe for the limpet.
- New species: Other species that are not native to the area can sometimes come into the springs. These "invasive species" can compete with the limpet for food or space, or even eat them.
Protecting these springs and their water is very important to help the Banbury Springs limpet survive.
