Elimia bellacrenata
| Elimia bellacrenata | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Subclass: | Caenogastropoda |
| Order: | incertae sedis |
| Family: | Pleuroceridae |
| Genus: | Elimia |
| Species: | E. bellacrenata |
| Binomial name | |
| Elimia bellacrenata Haldeman, 1842[3] | |
Elimia bellacrenata, the princess elimia, is a brown freshwater snail species belonging to the family Pleuroceridae. E. bellacrenata is a gastropod mollusk, characterized by its operculum, and is found in North American freshwater environments.[4]
Description
Elimia bellacrenata has an elongate, high-spired shell with multiple tightly coiled whorls that taper to a pointed apex. The shell is typically dark brown to black, though some individuals can appear lighter brown. Most Elimia species are small freshwater snails with shells typically about 1–2 cm (0.39–0.79 in) in length.[4]
Distribution and habitat
Elimia bellacrenata is endemic to the state of Alabama, where it is restricted to tributaries of the Cahaba River drainage.[5] It is typically found in freshwater environments with flowing water systems, such as springs and small streams. Like other members of the genus Elimia, it is associated with flowing water habitats with clean and oxygenated conditions on firm substrates such as rock or gravel.
Ecology
Elimia bellacrenata is a benthic[6] freshwater snail that functions primarily as a grazer, feeding on algae and biofilm (periphyton) on submerged rock surfaces. Like other members of the genus Elimia, it contributes to nutrient cycling and the regulation of algal growth. It may also serve as a food source for fish and other aquatic organisms. This species exhibits direct development, with embryos developing within egg capsules and hatching as small juveniles rather than passing through a free-swimming larval stage.[7]
Conservation status
Elimia bellacrenata is classified as critically imperiled by NatureServe due to its restricted range within the Cahaba River drainage of Alabama.[2] Many species in the genus Elimia are sensitive to environmental disturbance, including sedimentation, declining water quality, and habitat alteration. Because these snails depend on clean, well-oxygenated freshwater habitats, population declines are often associated with broader ecosystem degradation. As a result, species of Elimia are frequently used as indicators of water quality and freshwater ecosystem health.[8]
References
- ↑ Cordeiro, J.; Perez, K. (2012). "Elimia bellacrenata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2012 e.T189659A1931339. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012.RLTS.T189659A1931339.en. Retrieved 9 May 2026.
- 1 2 "Elimia bellacrenata". NatureServe Explorer 2.0. The Nature Conservancy. Retrieved 2026-05-07.
- ↑ "Elimia bellacrenata". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 2026-05-07.
- 1 2 "Elimia bellacrenata (Haldeman, 1842)". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 2026-05-07.
- ↑ "Elimia". Outdoor Alabama. Retrieved 2026-05-07.
- ↑ Turgeon, D. D.; Quinn, J. F.; Bogan, A. E.; Coan, E. V.; Hochberg, F. G.; Lyons, W. G.; Mikkelsen, P. M.; Neves, R. J.; Roper, C. F. E.; Rosenberg, G.; Roth, B.; Scheltema, A.; Thompson, F. G.; Vecchione, M.; Williams, J. D. (1998). "Common and scientific names of aquatic invertebrates from the United States and Canada: Mollusks". United States Geological Survey.
- ↑ Huryn, A. D.; Denny, M. W. (October 2003). "A biomechanical hypothesis explaining upstream movements by the freshwater snail Elimia". Functional Ecology. 11 (4): 472–483. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2435.1997.00116.x. ISSN 0269-8463.
- ↑ Johnson, Paul D; Bogan, Arthur E; Brown, Kenneth M; Burkhead, Noel M; Cordeiro, James R; Garner, Jeffrey T; Hartfield, Paul D; Lepitzki, Dwayne A W; Mackie, Gerry L; Pip, Eva; Tarpley, Thomas A; Tiemann, Jeremy S; Whelan, Nathan V; Strong, Ellen E (2013-06-01). "Conservation Status of Freshwater Gastropods of Canada and the United States". Fisheries. 38 (6): 247–282. doi:10.1080/03632415.2013.785396. ISSN 0363-2415.