List of non-marine molluscs of Montana facts for kids
Have you ever wondered about the tiny creatures living in Montana's rivers, lakes, and even in your backyard? Montana is home to many amazing mollusks that don't live in the ocean! These include different kinds of snails, slugs, freshwater mussels, and small freshwater clams. They play an important role in Montana's natural world.
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Meet Montana's Mollusks
A lot of different non-marine mollusks live in the wild across Montana.
Snails and Slugs (Gastropods)
There are at least 155 different kinds of gastropods found in Montana. Gastropods are a group of mollusks that include snails and slugs. Some of these species are exotic, meaning they are not originally from Montana. Others are called Species of Concern, which means they need special protection to make sure they survive.
Clams and Mussels (Freshwater Bivalves)
Montana is also home to at least 42 different kinds of freshwater bivalves. Bivalves are mollusks with two shells, like clams and mussels. The Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks has also listed many of these bivalve species as Species of Concern.
Mollusk Numbers in Montana
Here's a quick look at how many different types of mollusks live in Montana:
| Numbers of molluscs by habitat | Number of species |
|---|---|
| Freshwater gastropods | 113 |
| Land gastropods | 42 |
| Total number of non-marine gastropods | 155 |
| Freshwater bivalves | 42 |
| Total number of non-marine molluscs | 197 |
Freshwater Snails (Gastropods)
Freshwater snails live in rivers, lakes, and ponds. Here are some of the families you might find in Montana:
- Bithyniidae
- Thiaridae
- Valvatidae
- Valvata lewisi
- Valvata humeralis
- Valvata sincera
- Valvata tricarinata
- Hydrobiidae
- Pyrgulopsis bedfordensis
- Fluminicola fuscus
- Potamopyrgus antipodarum
- Amnicola limosa
- Acroloxidae
- Acroloxus coloradensis
- Lymnaeidae
- Radix auricularia
- Lymnaea stagnalis
- Stagnicola apicina
- Fossaria dalli
- Pseudosuccinea columella
- Physidae
- Physella vinosa
- Physa skinneri
- Aplexa elongata
- Physella acuta
- Physella gyrina
- Planorbidae
- Gyraulus parvus
- Menetus opercularis
- Planorbella pilsbryi
- Planorbella trivolvis
- Helisoma anceps
- Ferrissia rivularis
Land Snails and Slugs (Gastropods)
Land gastropods live on the ground, often in damp places. Here are some of the families found in Montana:
- Succineidae (Amber Snails)
- Catinella rehderi
- Oxyloma decampi
- Succinea grosvenori
- Arionidae (Roundback Slugs)
- Arion ater
- Arion circumscriptus
- Hemphillia camelus
- Kootenaia burkei
- Magnipelta mycophaga
- Megomphicidae
- Polygyrella polygyrella
- Vertiginidae (Pillar Snails)
- Columella columella
- Gastrocopta armifera
- Vertigo binneyana
- Pupillidae (Pupa Snails)
- Pupilla blandi
- Pupilla muscorum
- Discidae (Disk Snails)
- Anguispira kochi
- Discus whitneyi
- Limacidae (Keelback Slugs)
- Limax maximus
- Agriolimacidae (Field Slugs)
- Deroceras laeve
- Deroceras reticulatum
- Oxychilidae (Glass Snails)
- Nesovitrea electrina
- Oxychilus draparnaudi
- Gastrodontidae (Dwarf Glass Snails)
- Striatura pugetensis
- Zonitoides arboreus
- Pristilomatidae
- Hawaiia minuscula
- Pristiloma arcticum
- Vitrinidae (Glass-snail Slugs)
- Vitrina pellucida
- Euconulidae (Cone Snails)
- Euconulus fulvus
- Haplotrematidae
- Haplotrema vancouverense
- Oreohelicidae (Mountain Snails)
- Oreohelix alpina
- Oreohelix elrodi
- Oreohelix haydeni
- Oreohelix strigosa
- Polygyridae (Polygyrid Snails)
- Allogona ptychophora
- Cryptomastix mullani
- Cochlicopidae (Gloss Snails)
- Cochlicopa lubrica
- Charopidae
- Radiodiscus abietum
- Punctidae (Dot Snails)
- Paralaoma caputspinulae
- Punctum randolphi
- Thysanophoridae
- Microphysula ingersolli
- Valloniidae (Grass Snails)
- Vallonia albula
- Vallonia costata
- Vallonia pulchella
- Zoogenetes harpa
Freshwater Clams and Mussels (Bivalves)
Freshwater bivalves live in Montana's waters. They filter water and are important for healthy ecosystems.
- Margaritiferidae (Freshwater Pearl Mussels)
- Margaritifera falcata
- Unionidae (River Mussels)
- Lampsilis siliquoidea
- Lasmigona complanata
- Pyganodon grandis
- Sphaeriidae (Fingernail and Pea Clams)
- Musculium lacustre
- Musculium transversum
- Pisidium adamsi
- Pisidium casertanum
- Pisidium compressum
- Pisidium idahoense
- Pisidium variabile
- Sphaerium fabale
- Sphaerium striatinum
Images for kids
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Arion circumscriptus
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Limax maximus
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Vallonia pulchella
See also
