Pseudamnicola meloussensis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pseudamnicola meloussensis |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
| Class: | |
| (unranked): |
clade Caenogastropoda
clade Hypsogastropoda clade Littorinimorpha |
| Superfamily: |
Truncatelloidea
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| Family: |
Hydrobiidae
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| Subfamily: |
Pseudamnicolinae
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| Genus: |
Pseudamnicola
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| Species: |
P. meloussensis
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| Binomial name | |
| Pseudamnicola meloussensis Altaba, 2007
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Pseudamnicola meloussensis is a very small snail that lives in water that is a mix of fresh and salty, known as brackish water. It's a type of aquatic gastropod mollusk. These snails have a special "door" called an operculum that they use to close off their shell. This species was first described in 2007.
Contents
Discovering Pseudamnicola meloussensis
This tiny snail is part of a large group of animals called mollusks. Mollusks include snails, slugs, clams, and octopuses. Snails like Pseudamnicola meloussensis are also known as gastropods. This name comes from Greek words meaning "stomach-foot," which describes how they move using a muscular foot.
What is an Operculum?
Many snails, including Pseudamnicola meloussensis, have a hard, plate-like structure called an operculum. Think of it like a trapdoor that covers the opening of their shell. When the snail pulls its body inside, the operculum closes, protecting the snail from predators and keeping it from drying out.
Living in Brackish Water
Brackish water is a mix of fresh water and salt water. You can find it in places where rivers meet the sea, like estuaries, or in lagoons. Animals that live in brackish water, like Pseudamnicola meloussensis, are special because they can survive in water that changes its saltiness often. This makes their habitat unique and challenging.
Where This Snail Lives
Pseudamnicola meloussensis is found only in one specific place in the world. It lives on the Mediterranean island of Majorca. Majorca is a large island that is part of Spain, located in the Balearic Islands.
Endemic to Majorca
When an animal or plant is found only in one specific area and nowhere else, it is called "endemic" to that place. So, Pseudamnicola meloussensis is an endemic species of Majorca. This makes it very special and important to protect, as its survival depends entirely on the health of its habitat on this island. Scientists study these unique species to understand more about how different environments support life.
See also
In Spanish: Pseudamnicola meloussensis para niños
