Limnotrochus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Limnotrochus |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
| Class: | |
| (unranked): |
clade Caenogastropoda
clade Sorbeoconcha |
| Superfamily: |
Cerithioidea
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| Family: |
Paludomidae
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| Subfamily: |
Hauttecoeuriinae
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| Tribe: |
Tiphobiini
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| Genus: |
Limnotrochus
E. A. Smith, 1880
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| Species: |
L. thomsoni
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| Binomial name | |
| Limnotrochus thomsoni E. A. Smith, 1880
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The Limnotrochus thomsoni is a special kind of freshwater snail that lives only in Lake Tanganyika in Africa. It's the only species in its group, which means it's a very unique snail! It belongs to a family of snails called Paludomidae.
Like other snails, it's a type of mollusk. It has gills to breathe underwater, just like a fish. It also has a special "door" called an operculum that can close its shell opening for protection. This snail was named after an explorer named Joseph Thomson.
Where This Snail Lives
The Limnotrochus thomsoni snail is found only in Lake Tanganyika. This huge lake is shared by four different countries in Africa: Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, and Zambia. You won't find this snail anywhere else in the world!
What It Looks Like
The shell of the Limnotrochus thomsoni snail is about 14 mm wide and 19 mm tall. That's roughly the size of a small button or a large blueberry.
Its Home and Challenges
This snail lives at the bottom of Lake Tanganyika. It prefers areas where the water is between 4 and 30 meters deep. It likes to live on soft, muddy, or sandy parts of the lakebed.
One big problem for the Limnotrochus thomsoni is sedimentation. This happens when too much dirt, sand, or other particles wash into the lake. This extra sediment can cover the snail's habitat, making it hard for them to live and find food. Scientists are watching to see if this becomes a serious threat to the snail's future.
 | Roy Wilkins |
 | John Lewis |
 | Linda Carol Brown |
