Mimic cavesnail facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mimic cavesnail |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Phreatodrobia
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| Species: |
imitata
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The mimic cavesnail (scientific name: Phreatodrobia imitata) is a tiny freshwater snail. It's a type of mollusk that lives in water. Like many snails, it has a gill to breathe underwater and a special 'door' called an operculum that can close its shell opening. It belongs to the Hydrobiidae family, which includes many small aquatic snails.
Where the Mimic Cavesnail Lives
This special snail only lives in Texas, United States. It has only been found in three wells that go deep into the Edwards Aquifer. An aquifer is a large underground area that holds water. The first place this snail was discovered was in the Verstraeten Well, located in Bexar County, Texas. This means the snail is endemic to this small part of Texas, so it's not found anywhere else in the world.
What the Mimic Cavesnail Looks Like
The shell of the mimic cavesnail is very small. It has about 3.3 to 3.5 whorls, which are the turns or spirals of the shell. The snail's shell is usually just over 1 millimeter tall. That's about the size of a tiny speck! The operculum, which is like a trapdoor for its shell, is very thin. The snail also has a special tongue-like ribbon called a radula, which it uses to scrape food. Its radula is shaped like a trapezoid.
Protecting the Mimic Cavesnail
The mimic cavesnail faces several challenges. In 2023, it was considered for special protection under federal law, but it was not listed as an endangered species.
Some of the main threats to this snail include:
- Being pushed out of wells: Sometimes, when water is pumped from wells, snails can be accidentally pulled out.
- Losing water in the aquifer: The amount of water in the Edwards Aquifer can change. If too much water is taken out and not enough goes back in, the snail's home could shrink.
- Water pollution: Contamination from human activities can make the groundwater unsafe for the snails.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service looked into these threats. They noted that even though climate change might reduce how much water goes into the aquifer, rules are in place to help manage water use. This means that if there's less water, people will also use less, which helps protect the aquifer.
Scientists also found it hard to say exactly how much groundwater contamination affects the snails. This is because the snails live deep inside the large aquifer, and it's difficult to measure the full impact of cities growing around San Antonio. Also, as of 2023, two of the three wells where snails were found were no longer working. No new wells have been drilled in that specific area since 1995.
