Broadshoulder Physa facts for kids

Physella parkeri, also known as the Broadshoulder Physa, is a small, air-breathing snail that lives in freshwater. It's a type of gastropod mollusk, which means it's a soft-bodied animal, often with a shell, that moves on a muscular "foot." This snail belongs to the Physidae family.

Like other snails in its family, the Broadshoulder Physa has a unique feature: its shell is "left-handed." This means that if you hold the snail with the tip of its shell pointing up and the opening facing you, the opening will be on the left side. Most snail shells are "right-handed."

Where the Broadshoulder Physa Lives

The Broadshoulder Physa is found in different freshwater places. One special type of this snail, called Physella parkeri latchfordi, lives in Quebec, Canada. This subspecies is also known as the "Gatineau tadpole snail."

Its Conservation Status

The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) has looked at the Gatineau tadpole snail. They have listed it as "Data Deficient" (DD). This means there isn't enough information or research yet to know if the snail is endangered or not. Scientists need to do more studies to understand how many of these snails exist and if they are safe.