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Oreohelix magdalenae

Pilsbry, 1939

Magdalena Mountainsnail

G1Critically Imperiled (G1G2) Found in 1 roadless area NatureServe Explorer →

G1Critically ImperiledGlobal Rank

Medium - lowThreat Impact

Identity

Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.110058

Element CodeIMGASB5250

Record TypeSPECIES

ClassificationSpecies

Classification StatusStandard

Name CategoryInvertebrate Animal

Endemicendemic to a single state or province

KingdomAnimalia

PhylumMollusca

ClassGastropoda

OrderStylommatophora

FamilyOreohelicidae

GenusOreohelix

Concept Reference

Turgeon, D. D., J. F. Quinn, Jr., A. E. Bogan, E. V. Coan, F. G. Hochberg, W. G. Lyons, P. M. Mikkelsen, R. J. Neves, C. F. E. Roper, G. Rosenberg, B. Roth, A. Scheltema, F. G. Thompson, M. Vecchione, and J. D. Williams. 1998. Common and scientific names of aquatic invertebrates from the United States and Canada: Mollusks. 2nd Edition. American Fisheries Society Special Publication 26, Bethesda, Maryland. 526 pp.

Conservation Status

Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2

Review Date2023-02-01

Change Date2023-02-01

Edition Date2023-01-31

Edition AuthorsRamsay, L. (2023)

Threat ImpactMedium - low

Range Extent<100 square km (less than about 40 square miles)

Number of Occurrences1 - 20

Rank Reasons

This species has a limited range on an isolated mountain range. There are threats associated with increased fire frequency and severity.

Range Extent Comments

This species of snail is found in the higher elevations (from 2100 to 3000m) of the Magdalena Mountains in Socorro County, in west-central New Mexico, USA. The known range extent is approximately 16 km2.

Occurrences Comments

There are two locations mapped based on a separation distance of one kilometer, however in Metcalf and Smartt (1997) their observations are: "seems to occur widely in the range, above elevations of 7,000 ft. We have taken it at several localities. Along North Fork Canyon, a branch of Water Canyon, we found it at 7,320 ft on a north-facing slope near the bottom of the canyon, living under loose, igneous stones in thick leaf litter from deciduous trees. It has been taken in coniferous forest as high as 9,850 ft on North Baldy Peak". This would indicate at least six occurrences.

Threat Impact Comments

Fire and fire suppression are the largest threats to this species. Fires have increased in frequency and intensity, even at these elevations where the intensity experienced is considered moderate rather than severe. There is a program of controlled burns and debris removal to help decrease the intensity. Unfortunately by removing debris, you are removing habitat for this species. There are trails and campsites in the vicinity of this species with low use. Logging and mining on a scale that would affect this snail do not occur in the area at present. There is very small scale logging in areas where thinning may be needed (NMDGF 2016, USDA-FS accessed January 2023).

Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

This species is found living under loose, igneous stones in thick leaf litter from deciduous trees in canyons and on steep slopes.. It has been taken in coniferous forest as high as 3002m on North Baldy Peak. Trees that are common are ponderosa pine, mountain mahogany, and Gambel oak. There may also be pinyon-juniper forests with one-seed, rocky mountain and, alligator juniper, and two-needle pinyon junipers.

Terrestrial Habitats

Woodland - MixedBare rock/talus/scree

Other Nations (1)

United StatesN1

Province	Rank	Native
New Mexico	S1	Yes

Threat Assessments

Threat	Scope	Severity	Timing
3 - Energy production & mining	Restricted (11-30%)	Unknown	Insignificant/negligible or past
3.2 - Mining & quarrying	Restricted (11-30%)	Unknown	Insignificant/negligible or past
5 - Biological resource use	Small (1-10%)	Negligible or <1% pop. decline	High (continuing)
5.3 - Logging & wood harvesting	Small (1-10%)	Negligible or <1% pop. decline	High (continuing)
6 - Human intrusions & disturbance	Restricted - small	Negligible or <1% pop. decline	High (continuing)
6.1 - Recreational activities	Restricted - small	Negligible or <1% pop. decline	High (continuing)
7 - Natural system modifications	Large - restricted	Moderate - slight	High (continuing)
7.1 - Fire & fire suppression	Large - restricted	Moderate - slight	High (continuing)

Roadless Areas (1)

New Mexico (1)

Area	Forest	Acres
Ryan Hill	Cibola National Forest	34,201

References (4)

Metcalf, A.L. and R.A. Smartt. 1997. Land snails of New Mexico. Bulletin of the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science, 10: 1-145.
New Mexico Department of Game and Fish. 2016. State Wildlife Action Plan for New Mexico. Sante Fe, NM. 383 pages. Online portal at: https://nmswap.org/species.
Turgeon, D. D., J. F. Quinn, Jr., A. E. Bogan, E. V. Coan, F. G. Hochberg, W. G. Lyons, P. M. Mikkelsen, R. J. Neves, C. F. E. Roper, G. Rosenberg, B. Roth, A. Scheltema, F. G. Thompson, M. Vecchione, and J. D. Williams. 1998. Common and scientific names of aquatic invertebrates from the United States and Canada: Mollusks. 2nd Edition. American Fisheries Society Special Publication 26, Bethesda, Maryland. 526 pp.
U.S. Forest Service (USFS). 2023. Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands. Online at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/cibola

Oreohelix magdalenae

Habitat

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