Madagasikara madagascariensis facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Madagasikara madagascarensis
apertural view of a shell of Madagasikara madagascariensis
Conservation status
Endangered (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Gastropoda
(unranked):	clade Caenogastropoda clade Sorbeoconcha
Superfamily:	Cerithioidea
Family:	Pachychilidae
Genus:	Madagasikara
Species:	M. madagascarensis
Binomial name
Madagasikara madagascarensis (Grateloup, 1840)
Synonyms
Melania madagascariensis Grateloup, 1840 Pirena madagascariensis Melanatria madagascariensis Melania dusabonis Grateloup, 1840 Melania bicarinata Grateloup, 1840 Pirena debeauxiana Crosse, 1862 Melanatria debeauxiana Melanatria fluminea (partim)

Madagasikara madagascarensis is a special type of snail that lives in freshwater, like rivers and lakes. It's a gastropod, which means it's a kind of mollusc (like clams or octopuses). This snail has a gill to help it breathe underwater, just like a fish! It also has a hard "door" called an operculum that can close its shell for protection.

This amazing snail is found only in one place in the world: the island of Madagascar. This means it is endemic to Madagascar, making it a unique part of the island's wildlife.

Description

Madagasikara madagascarensis has a beautiful shell. The shells can look a bit different depending on the snail's age. Young snails, called juveniles, have smaller shells. As they grow, their shells get bigger and change shape slightly.

A drawing of a Madagasikara madagascariensis shell. Some of the top swirls are missing.

A photo showing several Madagasikara madagascariensis shells.

These are the shells of young Madagasikara madagascariensis snails.