Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.119723
Element CodeIMGASJ0470
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryInvertebrate Animal
IUCNCritically endangered
Endemicendemic to a single state or province
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumMollusca
ClassGastropoda
OrderLittorinimorpha
FamilyHydrobiidae
GenusPyrgulopsis
SynonymsFontelicella neomexicana(Pilsbry, 1916)
Concept ReferenceTurgeon, 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 Date2021-07-26
Change Date1999-09-14
Edition Date2021-07-26
Edition AuthorsP. Mehlhop (1997); J. Cordeiro (2008); M. Ormes (2021)
Threat ImpactVery high
Range Extent<100-250 square km (less than about 40-100 square miles)
Number of Occurrences1 - 5
Rank ReasonsThis species occurs in only a single spring site with narrow and contracted habitat on private land and is threatened by habitat loss due to climate change and groundwater pumping.
Range Extent CommentsThis species is only known to occur at Torreon Springs, Socorro County, New Mexico, USA (USFWS 2008); Torreon Springs is about 24 km south of Socorro.
The type specimen apparently came from a thermal spring about 5 km west of Socorro, in the Socorro Mountains, but it is no longer extant there. It was reportedly present in Sedillo and Socorro springs in 1971, but Taylor (1987) believes this is speculative since Socorro Spring was fully developed with no remaining surface water in 1968. The type locality, Sedillo, and Socorro springs are part of the Socorro thermal area, which extends about 3.2 km along the front of the mountains and 1 km west (Summers 1976).
Occurrences CommentsIn 1981, this species was known to occur in both Torreon Spring, and in the outflow tributary (about 2.5 meters long) to an irrigation ditch (Taylor 1987). However, as of 1996, it was only found in the outflow tributary and the spring source had been capped by a windmill (USFWS 1993).
Threat Impact CommentsThis species is threatened by climate change, groundwater pumping, declines in water quality, and habitat loss. Mehlhop and Vaughn (1994) note that the spring ecosystem in which this species occurs is no longer functional in its natural state because most of the habitat for this species is destroyed and several sites where the species has formerly occurred have been impounded. Additional alterations to the springs or associated runs could cause a further reduction in water flow, change in water temperature or water quality, modify habitat or food source, thus having a devastating impact on the existing population. The International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) predicts warmer temperatures and unpredictable precipitation patterns due to anthropogenic climate change (Christensen et al. 2013); this will likely impact seasonal water temperature and water availability for this species. Another challenge is the lack of access; the private landowner is reluctant to work with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service either to protect the remaining habitat or to allow monitoring. Although the location of Torreon Spring and the lack of water on the landscape makes the introduction of exotic aquatic species unlikely, the arrival of non-native species could introduce increased threats to the springsnail population due to predation or competition (USFWS 2020, Bison-M 2021).