Home/Species/ Snake River Physa

Physella natricina

(Taylor, 1988)

Snake River Physa

G1Critically Imperiled Found in 1 roadless area NatureServe Explorer →

G1Critically ImperiledGlobal Rank

Data deficientIUCN

HighThreat Impact

Identity

Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.107250

Element CodeIMGASL9040

Record TypeSPECIES

ClassificationSpecies

Classification StatusStandard

Name CategoryInvertebrate Animal

IUCNData deficient

Endemicendemic to a single state or province

KingdomAnimalia

PhylumMollusca

ClassGastropoda

OrderBasommatophora

FamilyPhysidae

GenusPhysella

Synonyms

Haitia natricina(Taylor, 1988)Physa natricinaTaylor, 1988

Other Common Names

Snake River physa snail (EN)

Concept Reference

Taylor, D.W. 1988. New species of Physa (Gastropoda: Hygrophila) from the Western United States. Malacological Review, 21(1-2): 43-79.

Taxonomic Comments

Placement in the genus Physella follows Gates et al. (2013) (FMCS 2021).

This species was previously named a junior synonym of P. acuta based on shell characteristics from the holotype and paratypes as well as soft tissue and shell characteristic comparisons with Physidae museum specimens (Rogers and Wethington 2007).

Conservation Status

Review Date2008-02-21

Change Date1999-09-14

Edition Date2008-02-21

Edition AuthorsCordeiro, J. (2008); Morrison, M. (1999)

Threat ImpactHigh

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

Number of Occurrences1 - 5

Rank Reasons

This snail only remains at a few locations in the Snake River, Idaho

Range Extent Comments

Fossil records show this species to be a relict from the late Pliocene where it was found in lake and river deposits in southern Idaho, northern Utah, and eastern Nevada (Taylor, 1988). Currently it is restricted to the Snake River (not in the tributaries) from the vicinity of Bliss to Hammett, Gooding Co., southern Idaho (Taylor, 2003).

Occurrences Comments

Only three populations are believed to be extant (USFWS, 1995). Currently it is restricted to the Snake River (not in the tributaries) from the vicinity of Bliss to Hammett, Gooding Co., Idaho (Taylor, 2003). Taylor (1988) also cites fossil evidence from Bear Lake, Idaho/Utah; Lake Bonneville, Idaho/Nevada/Utah; Box Elder and Salt Lake Cos., Utah; Lake Thatcher, Utah; and Snake River, Idaho.

Threat Impact Comments

Potential threats include oxygen depletion, water pollution from agricultural runoff, irrigation, and competition from the introduced snail Potamopyrgus antipodarum (USFWS, 2005).

Ecology & Habitat

Description

See Taylor (1988) for complete description and illustrations.

Habitat

The habitat is the swift currents of the mainstem Snake River on the undersides of gravel and boulder substrates. A relatively deep, steady current, and well-oxygenated water are required (Taylor, 1988).

Other Nations (1)

United StatesN1

Province	Rank	Native
Idaho	S1	Yes

Threat Assessments

Threat	Scope	Severity	Timing
7 - Natural system modifications	Large - restricted	Moderate - slight	Moderate - low
7.2 - Dams & water management/use	Large - restricted	Moderate - slight	Moderate - low
8 - Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases	Large - restricted	Serious - slight	High - moderate
8.1 - Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases	Large - restricted	Serious - slight	High - moderate
9 - Pollution	Large - restricted	Moderate - slight	High - moderate
9.3 - Agricultural & forestry effluents	Large - restricted	Moderate - slight	High - moderate

Roadless Areas (1)

South Dakota (1)

Area	Forest	Acres
Indian Creek	Buffalo Gap National Grassland	24,666

References (10)

Freshwater Mollusk Conservation Society (FMCS). 2021. The 2021 checklist of freshwater gastropods (Mollusca: Gastropods) of the United States and Canada. Considered and approved by the Gastropods Names Subcommittee December 2020. Online: https://molluskconservation.org/MServices_Names-Gastropods.html
Gates, K. K., B. L. Kerans, J. L. Keebaugh, S. Kalinowski, and N. Vu. 2013. Taxonomic identity of the endangered Snake River physa, Physa natricina (Pulmonata: Physidae) combining traditional and molecular techniques. Conservation Genetics 14(1):159-169.
Rogers, D.C. and A.R. Wethington. 2007. Physa natricina Taylor 1988, junior synonym of Physa acuta Draparnaud, 1805 (Pulmonata: Physidae). Zootaxa, 1662: 45-51.
Taylor, D.W. 1988. New species of Physa (Gastropoda: Hygrophila) from the Western United States. Malacological Review, 21(1-2): 43-79.
Taylor, D.W. 2003. Introduction to Physidae (Gastropoda: Hygrophiila); biogeography, classification, morphology. Revista de Biologia Tropical (International Journal of Tropical Biology and Conservation), 51, supplement 1: 1-287.
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. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 1992. Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Determination of Endangered Status or Threatened Status for Five Aquatic Snails in South Central Idaho. Final Rule. Federal Register. 57(240):59244-56.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 1995. Snake River Aquatic Species Recovery Plan. Snake River Basin Office, Ecological Services, Boise, Idaho. 92 pp.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2022. Initiation of 5-Year Status Reviews for 167 Species in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, California, Hawaii, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands. Notice of initiation of reviews; request for information. Federal Register 87(90): 28031-28034.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2023. Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Technical Corrections for 62 Wildlife and Plant Species on the Lists of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants. Federal Register 88(22):7134-7177.

Physella natricina

Description

Habitat

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