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Patera nantahala

(Clench and Banks, 1932)

Noonday Globe

G1Critically Imperiled (G1G2) Found in 2 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G1Critically ImperiledGlobal Rank
Data deficientIUCN
High - lowThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.108235
Element CodeIMGAS95081
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryInvertebrate Animal
IUCNData deficient
Endemicendemic to a single state or province
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumMollusca
ClassGastropoda
OrderStylommatophora
FamilyPolygyridae
GenusPatera
Synonyms
Mesodon clarki nantahalaClench, 1933Patera clarkii nantahala(Clench and Banks, 1932)Patera clarki nantahala(Clench and Banks, 1932)
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.
Taxonomic Comments
Based on molecular, morphological, and ecological data, Patera clarkii nantahala has been elevated to species status, P. nantahala, by Whelan et al. (2023).

Clench and Banks (1932) named this taxon Polygyra (Triodopsis) nantahala. Pilsbry (1940) later relegated it to a subspecies of Mesodon clarki. Emberton (1991) reclassified Mesodon clarki to Patera clarki. Patera clarki is a misspelling,the correct spelling is P. clarkii (MolluscaBase 2023).
Conservation Status
Rank MethodLegacy Rank calculation - Excel v3.1x
Review Date2019-04-03
Change Date2003-05-12
Edition Date2018-12-11
Edition AuthorsCordeiro, J.R.
Threat ImpactHigh - low
Range Extent<100 square km (less than about 40 square miles)
Number of Occurrences1 - 5
Rank Reasons
In North Carolina Patera clarki nantahala is endemic to Nantahala Gorge in Swain Co. It is only known to occupy scattered sites along the southeast slope of a gorge from high cliffs. It has experienced declines both short and long term and is rare when found.
Range Extent Comments
This species is restricted to the eastern slope of the Nantahala Gorge in North Carolina, USA (Whelan et al. 2023).
Occurrences Comments
It has been recorded from scattered sites along the southeast side Nantahala River Gorge (USFWS 2013); North Carolina Natural Heritage Program records one extant occurrence.
Threat Impact Comments
Although the majority of the species’ habitat occurs within the boundaries of Nantahala National Forest, loss of habitat associated with development of adjacent private lands and private inholdings, highway maintenance activities, spread of invasive, non-native vegetation and prolonged drought appear to have reduced the species’ range and numbers (USFWS 2013).
Ecology & Habitat

Diagnostic Characteristics

It is known from high cliffs (1900 to 3100 feet, in a half mile stretch) along the southeast bank of the Nantahala River in the Nantahala Gorge. Cliffs are mesic, interrupted frequently by small streams and waterfalls, and there is much exposed rock and the forest floor often has a thick humus layer (USFWS 1984).

Habitat

The species appears to prefer the moist, highly vegetated habitats that receive little sunlight, which are typical of the eastern slope of the Nantahala Gorge. Found only in habitats with soil characterized by the SSURGO soil map as “Inceptisols: Sylco-Cataska complex, 50 to 95 percent slopes, very rocky” (Whelan et al. 2023).
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest - MixedBare rock/talus/screeCliff
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN1
ProvinceRankNative
North CarolinaS1Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
2 - Agriculture & aquacultureRestricted (11-30%)Moderate - slightInsignificant/negligible or past
2.2 - Wood & pulp plantationsRestricted (11-30%)Moderate - slightInsignificant/negligible or past
4 - Transportation & service corridorsLarge (31-70%)Serious - slightInsignificant/negligible or past
4.1 - Roads & railroadsLarge (31-70%)Serious - slightInsignificant/negligible or past
6 - Human intrusions & disturbanceLarge - restrictedSerious - slightHigh - moderate
6.1 - Recreational activitiesLarge - restrictedSerious - slightHigh - moderate
7 - Natural system modificationsPervasive - largeModerate - slightModerate - low
7.1 - Fire & fire suppressionPervasive - largeModerate - slightModerate - low
7.1.1 - Increase in fire frequency/intensityPervasive - largeModerate - slightModerate - low
8 - Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseasesRestricted (11-30%)Moderate - slightModerate - low
11 - Climate change & severe weatherLarge - restrictedModerate - slightLow - insignificant/negligible
11.2 - DroughtsLarge - restrictedModerate - slightLow - insignificant/negligible

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Roadless Areas (2)
North Carolina (2)
AreaForestAcres
Cheoah BaldNantahala National Forest7,795
Wesser BaldNantahala National Forest4,061
References (12)
  1. Braun, E. L. 1950. Deciduous forests of eastern North America. Hafner Press, New York. 596 pp.
  2. Clench, W.J., and G.S. Banks. 1932. Descriptions of some land snails of southwestern North Carolina. The Nautilus 46(1):14-18.
  3. Dourson, D.C. 2013. Land snails of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and southern Appalachians. Goatslug Publications, Bakersville, NC. 336 pp.
  4. Emberton, K.C. 1991. The genitalic, allozymic and conchological evolution of the Tribe Mesodontini (Pulmonata: Stylommatophora: Polygyridae). Malacologia 33(1-2):71-178.
  5. Hubricht, L. 1985. The distribution of the native land mollusks of the eastern United States. Fieldiana: Zoology 24:1-191.
  6. LeGrand, H.E., Jr., S.P. Hall, S.E. McRae, and J.T. Finnegan. 2006. Natural Heritage Program List of the Rare Animal Species of North Carolina. North Carolina Natural Heritage Program, Raleigh, North Carolina. 104 pp.
  7. MolluscaBase eds. 2023. MolluscaBase. Accessed at https://www.molluscabase.org.
  8. Pilsbry, H.A.. 1940. Land Mollusca of North America (North of Mexico), Vol 1. pt 2. Acadamy of Natural Science, Phil. Monograph 3(1):575-994.
  9. 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.
  10. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 1984. Recovery Plan for the noonday snail <i>Mesodon clarki nantahala</i>. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Atlanta Georgia. 34 pp.
  11. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2013. Noonday Globe <i>Patera</i> (=<i>Mesodon</i>) <i>clarki nantahala</i>  5-year review: summary and evaluation. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Asheville Ecological Services Field Office, Southeast Region, Asheville, North Carolina. 12 pp.
  12. Whelan, N. V., E. E. Strong, N. S. Gladstone, and J. W. Mays. 2023. Using genomics, morphometrics, and environmental niche modeling to test the validity of a narrow-range endemic snail, <i>Patera nantahala</i> (Gastropoda, Polygyridae). ZooKeys 1158:91-120.