Lacy elimia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lacy elimia |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
| Class: | |
| (unranked): |
clade Caenogastropoda
clade Sorbeoconcha |
| Superfamily: |
Cerithioidea
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| Family: |
Pleuroceridae
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| Genus: |
Elimia
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| Species: |
E. crenatella
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| Binomial name | |
| Elimia crenatella I. Lea, 1860
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| Synonyms | |
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Oxytrema crenatella |
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The lacy elimia (scientific name: Elimia crenatella) is a type of freshwater snail. It has a special part called a gill to breathe underwater and an operculum, which is like a little door that closes its shell. This snail is an aquatic gastropod mollusk from the family Pleuroceridae.
This snail is found only in the United States, specifically in Alabama. It has been listed as a threatened species since October 28, 1998. This means its numbers are very low, and it needs protection to survive.
Contents
What the Lacy Elimia Looks Like
The lacy elimia is a small snail. It grows to about 1.1 centimeters (0.4 inches) long. Its shell is shaped like a cone. It often has strong ridges and folds on its upper parts.
The shell is usually dark brown or black. The opening of the shell, called the aperture, is often purple. This snail's shell does not have any bands or stripes. You can easily tell the lacy elimia apart from other Elimia snails. It has a unique size, patterns, and color.
How Lacy Elimia Are Related to Other Snails
Scientists have studied the genes of the lacy elimia. They found it is very similar to another snail called the compact elimia (Elimia showalteri). Even though they are genetically close, scientists believe they are still different species.
These two snail species live in different places. The compact elimia lives in the Cahaba River. The lacy elimia is found in the Coosa River area. They also look very different. The compact elimia has a large, smooth shell that is brown or green. The lacy elimia has a small, delicate shell that is dark and has patterns.
Their behavior is also different. Compact elimia snails usually graze alone. Lacy elimia snails are often found in tight groups or colonies on larger rocks. These differences in where they live, how they look, and how they behave show that the lacy elimia is its own unique species.
Where the Lacy Elimia Lives
The lacy elimia used to be very common in the main part of the Coosa River. It lived from St. Clair County, Alabama to Chilton County, Alabama. It was also found in several smaller streams that flow into the Coosa River. These included Big Will's Creek, Kelley's Creek, Choccolocco Creek, and Tallaseehatchee Creek.
Today, the lacy elimia only lives in three creeks in Talladega County, Alabama. These are Cheaha Creek, Emauhee Creek, and Weewoka Creek. It is quite common in the lower parts of Cheaha Creek. This creek starts in the Talladega National Forest. However, no lacy elimia snails have been found on lands managed by the United States Forest Service.
In Emauhee and Weewoka creeks, the snails are rare and hard to find. All these streams are affected by dirt and pollution from nearby towns and farms. Because these streams are small, their water quality can change quickly. This makes it harder for the snails to survive.
Why the Lacy Elimia Declined
The lacy elimia has disappeared from over 90 percent of the places it used to live. The main reason for this is the building of dams. Dams create large lakes, which cover the snail's natural rocky habitats. This snail cannot live in these deep, still waters.
Dams change the river environment a lot. They stop the water from flowing quickly, which allows dirt and mud to build up. The water chemistry also changes in these dammed areas. For example, many lakes behind dams have too many nutrients. This can lead to low oxygen levels in the water. These changes make it hard for river snails to feed, breathe, and reproduce.
Ecology of the Lacy Elimia
Not much is known specifically about the lacy elimia's daily life. However, we know some general facts about snails in the Elimia group.
Habitat
Elimia snails breathe with gills. They usually live in fast-flowing water on rocky areas and gravel beds. They like river or stream habitats with strong currents and clean, hard bottoms. This includes places with bedrock, large rocks, or gravel.
Feeding Habits
Most Elimia snails eat periphyton. This is a slimy layer of algae and other tiny organisms that grows on rocks and other surfaces at the bottom of the water.
Life Cycle
Each snail is either male or female. The female snails lay their eggs in early spring. The eggs hatch into baby snails in about two weeks. Snails usually become old enough to reproduce in their first year. However, some females might not lay eggs until their second year. Some Elimia snails can live for up to five years.
See also
In Spanish: Elimia crenatella para niños
