Physella gyrina

Placement in the genus Physella is based on genetic testing and the priority of Physa fontinalis as the type species for Physa (Wethington and Lydeard 2007, FMCS 2021).

Taylor (2003) lists this species as Physella [= Physa] gyrina. It is likely that Physella wrighti is the evolutionary source of the ancestral population from which Physella johnsoni and Physella gyrina were derived (Remigio et al., 2001). Dillon et al. (2004) found postmating reproductive isolation between P. acuta and P. gyrina. Possibly Physa wrighti, Physa aurea, and Physa gyrina (from Cooper Springs, Virginia, only) may be part of a single monophyletic species (Wetherton and Guralnick, 2004). Dillon and Wethington (2004) reported no postzygotic reproductive isolation between populations of P. gyrina, P. ancillaria, P. aurea, P. microstriata and P. utahensis collected at or near their type localites. The results of the Dillon and Wethington (2006) genetic survey of Michigan physid populations suggested that P. sayii and P. parkeri are synonyms of P. gyrina. Additional junior synonyms postulated by Dillon et al. (2006) include P. crocata, P. elliptica, P. inflata, P. hildrethiana, P. microstoma, P. lordi, and P. oleacea. A study of molecular phylogeny of the family Physidae conducted by Wethington and Lydeard (2007) resulted in proposed monophyly of the family and supported six major clades, each with a corresponding difference in penial morphology; with Physa gyrina falling within the type b group.

This species is distributed in temperate and sub-Arctic North America from southern Alaska and northwestern Canada (but not in the extreme north) east and southeast to central Labrador, western New England and the vicinity of New York City; south to central California, Nevada, Utah, and Colorado; to the central Great Plains in eastern Kandas and eastern Oklahoma; east to the southern Appalachian Mountains; and also southward at higher elevations in discontinuous areas on the Mogollon Plateau and White Maountains, Arizona; Jemez, San Juan, Sangre de Cristo, and Zuni Mountains, New Mexico (Taylor, 2003). This species has a wide distribution, presumed large population, occurrence in a number of protected areas, tolerance of a broad range of habitats, tolerance to habitat modification, lack of substantial immediate threats, and because it is not in decline or is unlikely to be declining fast enough to qualify for listing in a more threatened category.

This species is distributed in temperatee and sub-Arctic North America from southern Alaska and northwestern Canada (but not in the extreme north) east and southeast to central Labrador, western New England and the vicinity of New York City; south to central California, Nevada, Utah, and Colorado; to the central Great Plains in eastern Kandas and eastern Oklahoma; east to the southern Appalachian Mountains; and also southward at higher elevations in discontinuous areas on the Mogollon Plateau and White Mountains, Arizona; Jemez, San Juan, Sangre de Cristo, and Zuni Mountains, New Mexico (Taylor, 2003). Burch (1989) lists several supposed synonyms including Physella gyrina gyrina from Canada, Quebec to Ontario south to Nebraska and east to New York; Physella gyrina gyrina morph elliptica and morph hildrethiana from Ontario south to Iowa and Missouri and east to New York; Physella gyrina alba from eastern Canada to Ontario and northeastern U.S.; Physella gyrina ampullacea from Manitoba west to British Columbia and south to California and east to Arizona and north to Minnesota; Physella gyrina athearni from Alberta; Physella gyrina aurea from New Jersey to Kansas and south to Arkansas and Florida; Physella gyrina aurea morph albofilata from Pennsylvania west to Kansas and south to Oklahoma and Alabama; Physella gyrina bayfieldensis from Northwest Territories south to Kansas; Physella gyrina cylindrica from Ontario and New York south to Virginia; Physella gyrina gouldi from Northwest Territories south to Wisconsin and Colorado; Physella gyrina hawni from Ohio west to Kansas and south to Texas and Alabama; Physella gyrina microstoma from Virginia to Missouri and south to Arkansas and Alabama; Physella gyrina sayi from Quebec to Northwest Territories south to Saskatchewan, the Dakotas and New York; Physella gyrina smithiana from Kansas to Texas, Wyoming and California. Its more southern range includes higher elevations, such as the discontinuous areas of the Mogollon Plateau and White Mountains, Arizona; it is also found in Jemez, San Juan, Sangre de Cristo, and Zuni Mountains in New Mexico (Taylor, 2003). It extends across the border into Mexico.

It is rare in North Carolina (few in N border NW, E and NE coast) (Dillon et al., 2006). In Georgia, it is in a spring in DeKalb Co. (Dillon et al., 2006). In Alabama, it is common throughout (Mirarchi, 2004). In Florida, it is in the panhandle in systems that drain S from Georgia and Alabama (Thompson, 1999). In Kentucky: Cumberland (Branson and Batch, 1987), Kentucky (Branson and Batch, 1981), Tennessee (Branson and Batch, 1987) and Ohio drainage (Branson and Batch, 1983; 1987). Blair and Sickel (1986) list 8 of 44 sites in Land Between the Lakes in Kentucky and Tennessee. It was in Frog Bayou (Lower Arkansas) (Gordon, 1985), White (Gordon, 1982) and Bayou Bartholomew drainages (Minton et al., 2008), Arkansas. It is in several areas in Alaska (Baxter, 1987). Pyron et al. (2008) listed 8 of 123 current and 22 historical in Indiana with most historic in the north. Branson (1966) cites it from the Spring River drainage in Kansas and Missouri. In Missouri , Wu et al. (1997) (P. elliptica) list 1 from Schuyler Co. and N of the Missouri River, 1 from Stoddard Co.; and the Ozarks (as P. goodrichi) (Camden, Crawford, Dallas, Dent, Iron, Jefferson, Lincoln, Oregon, Ozark, Pulaski, Reynolds, St. Charles, Shannon, Stoddard, Warren, Wayne Cos.); Prairie regions N of the Mississippi River (as P. saffordii) (Audrain, Grundy, Linn, Macon, Mercer Cos.); Missouri Prairie Region (as P. salina) (Clay Co.); nominal gyrina widely distributed (Andrew, Barry, Bates, Carroll, Carter, Chariton, Christian, Clay, Dent, Gasconade, Grundy, Harrison, Hickory, Holt, Iron, Jefferson, Johnson, Lincoln, Livingston, McDonald, Marion, Moniteau, Nodaway, Oregon, Ozark, Perry, Pike, Polk, Pulaski, Putnam, Ray, Raynolds, Ripley, St. Clair, St. Louis, Saline, Schuyler, Stoddard, Taney, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Webster, Wright Cos.). In Pennsylvania, it is in the Delaware, Ohio, Potomac, and Susquehanna bains (Evans and Ray, 2010). The first Ohio record is Sterki (1902). Wu and Beetle (1995) list in Wyoming (as P. elliptica) in Yellowstone National Park and Washakie Co.; and (P. gouldi) in the west in Albany, Fremont, Sheridan, Sublette, Teton, and Uinta Cos.; as P. whitei across the plains in Carbon, Crook, Fremont, Hot Springs, Johnson, Laramie, Platte, Sheridan, Sublette, Weston, Yellowstone National Park; and nominally in Sheridan Co. Wu and Liu (2001) list it (P. elliptica) in Anderson Co. and considered Leonard's (1959) P. hawnii from Verdegris River a synonym. Wu and Liu (2001) list it (P. gouldi) from Anderson, Chautauqua, McPherson, Phillip, and Wabaunsee Cos.; P. whitei from Brown, Cheyenne, Clark, Linn, Nemaha, Pottawatomie, Riley, and Wabaunsee Cos.; (as P. saffordi) from Barton, Chase, and Marshall Cos., Kansas. Wu and Liu (2001) list nominal gyrina from Butler, Geary, and Morris Cos, S of the Kansas River. Freeman and Perkins (1992; 1997) list it in Nebraska on the Platte and Niobrara Rivers. Wu (2005) lists it in Nebraska (P. gouldi) mostly N of the Platte River in Brown, Burt, Cherry, Dodge, Lincoln, and Sheridan Cos.; and (P. saffordi) in N Blain, central Keya Paha, N Rock and E Richardson Cos.; (P. warreniana) in NW Arthur, Sheridan, and Sioux Cos.; (P. whitei) only in Cherry Co. Lysne and Pierce (2009) found it abundant in Crystal Creek-Spring Creek, Blaine Co., Idaho and Lysne and Clark (2009) found it in the Bruneau River (Snake River confluence upstream to Hot Creek). In Alberta, sources noted: East of Red Deer, Macleod and the Little Bow River; 9 lakes in Jasper National Park; approximately 8 lakes and creeks; sloughs near Wainwright; approximately 35 locations along the Saskatchewan and Mackenzie River systems; Wabamun Lake; beaver ponds near Sheep River; Hawrelak Park, Edmonton; Vermilion Lakes; 10 sites in Banff National Park; 2 at Lethbridge; 3 Vermilion Lakes and 2 other lakes (Lepitzki, 2001).