List of endangered molluscs facts for kids

Endangered (EN) species are considered to be facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild.

Molluscs are a huge group of animals that includes snails, slugs, clams, and octopuses. In September 2016, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) listed 507 types of molluscs as endangered. This means they are at a very high risk of disappearing forever from the wild. About 7% of all molluscs that have been checked are in this endangered group.

The IUCN also lists nine mollusc subspecies as endangered. A subspecies is like a special group within a species. There are no mollusc groups smaller than subspecies that have been checked by the IUCN.

To be called endangered, a mollusc species must meet certain rules. These rules help scientists decide which animals are in the most danger. Even more at risk are "critically endangered" species. These are listed separately. If you combine endangered and critically endangered molluscs, there are 1088 species in total.

Sometimes, there isn't enough information about a mollusc species. These are called "data deficient." About 1988 mollusc species (27% of those checked) are in this group. The IUCN thinks these species might also be in danger, especially if they live in small areas or have small populations. They need the same care as threatened species until more is known about them.

This article shares information about some of the endangered mollusc species.

Gastropods: Snails and Slugs

Gastropods are a large group of molluscs that includes all kinds of snails and slugs. There are 448 species and seven subspecies of gastropods that are considered endangered.

Land Snails and Slugs (Stylommatophora)

Stylommatophora is a very diverse group. It includes most land snails and slugs you might see. There are 187 species and two subspecies in this group that are endangered.

Partulids

Partulids are a family of land snails. Some endangered species include:

Eua zebrina
Samoana diaphana

Achatinellids

Achatinellids are another family of land snails. Many of them are also endangered, such as:

Newcombia cumingi
Partulina variabilis

Other Endangered Land Snails

Many other land snail species are also endangered. These include:

Ctenophila setiliris found in Réunion
Gonospira uvula
Helix texta
Iberus gualtieranus
Xerocrassa montserratensis
Megalobulimus parafragilior
Patera clenchi (also known as Clench's middle-toothed land snail)
Sculptiferussacia clausiliaeformis
Truncatellina arcyensis
Vertigo heldi
Kaputar pink slug (Triboniophorus sp. 'Kaputar')

Littorinimorpha: Sea and Freshwater Snails

There are 147 species and three subspecies of Littorinimorpha that are endangered. This group includes many snails that live in the ocean or in freshwater.

Hydrobiids

Hydrobiids are a large family of small snails, often found in freshwater or brackish water. Many are endangered, including:

Antrobia culveri (Tumbling Creek cavesnail)
Belgrandiella wawrai
Ocmulgee marstonia (Marstonia agarhecta)
Duckwater pyrg (Pyrgulopsis aloba)
San Bernardino springsnail (Pyrgulopsis bernardina)
Sipun cave water snail (Saxurinator sketi)

Bithyniids

Bithyniids are a family of freshwater snails. Some endangered species are:

Bithynia pesicii
Gabbiella spiralis

Assimineids

Assimineids are small snails found in various habitats. Endangered species include:

Pecos assiminea (Assiminea pecos)
Cape Leeuwin snail (Austroassiminea letha)

Other Endangered Littorinimorpha Species

Other endangered snails in this group include:

Devil tryonia (Tryonia diaboli)

Sorbeoconcha: Diverse Snails

This is another large group of snails, with many endangered species like:

Walnut elimia (Elimia bellula)
Spiny river snail (Io fluvialis)
Painted rocksnail (Leptoxis taeniata)
Rough hornsnail (Pleurocera foremani)

Architaenioglossa: More Snails

This group also has many endangered species and subspecies, such as:

Bellamya contracta
Tulotoma (Tulotoma magnifica)

Cycloneritimorpha: Nerites and Relatives

Endangered species in this group include:

Black nerite (Theodoxus prevostianus)
Striped nerite (Theodoxus transversalis)

Hygrophila: Freshwater Snails

There are 22 Hygrophila species that are endangered. These are freshwater snails.

Planorbids

Planorbids are often called ramshorn snails because of their coiled shells. Endangered species include:

Africanogyrus rodriguezensis
Gyraulus stankovici

Lymnaeids

Lymnaeids are pond snails. Some endangered species are:

Shortspire pondsnail (Stagnicola idahoensis)

Neogastropoda: Marine Snails

This group includes many marine snails, some of which are endangered:

Conus ateralbus
Conus cuneolus

Other Endangered Gastropod Species

Pinto abalone (Haliotis kamtschatkana)
Caterpillar slug (Laevicaulis haroldi)

Bivalvia: Clams, Mussels, and Oysters

Bivalves are molluscs with two shells hinged together, like clams and mussels. There are 57 species and two subspecies of bivalves that are endangered.