Roadless Areas
Home/Species/ Fossil Springsnail

Pyrgulopsis simplex

Hershler, 1988

Fossil Springsnail

G1Critically Imperiled Found in 1 roadless area NatureServe Explorer →
G1Critically ImperiledGlobal Rank
Data deficientIUCN
Very high - highThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.120260
Element CodeIMGASJ0210
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryInvertebrate Animal
IUCNData deficient
Endemicendemic to a single state or province
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumMollusca
ClassGastropoda
OrderLittorinimorpha
FamilyHydrobiidae
GenusPyrgulopsis
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 MethodLegacy Rank calculation - Biotics v1
Review Date2019-11-27
Change Date2019-01-07
Edition Date2019-11-27
Edition AuthorsFlower, C.
Threat ImpactVery high - high
Range Extent<100 square km (less than about 40 square miles)
Number of Occurrences1 - 5
Rank Reasons
Very restricted global range. It is known only from a spring near Strawberry, Gila County, along with Fossil Springs, Yavapai County, Arizona (2 locations).
Range Extent Comments
It is known only from a spring near Strawberry, Gila County, along with Fossil Springs, Yavapai County, Arizona (2 locations).
Occurrences Comments
It is found in springs along Fossil Creek in the Lower Verde River drainage (Hershler, 1994) in the Above Power Plant site
Threat Impact Comments
Habitat loss or degradation, reduced spring flow and surface waters, and competition or predation by aquatic invasive species may impact springsnail and aquatic insect populations. Activities on Tonto National Forest that may affect aquatic invertebrate habitat include: springhead modification development, diversion of groundwater and surface flows, trampling and sedimentation from livestock overgrazing, user-created hiking trails, and off-trail OHV use. Aquatic habitats for springsnails and aquatic insects may be affected by impaired water quality and quantity, wildfires and post-fire flooding, contamination from mining operations (past and present), predation by crayfish, competition with introduced and invasive mollusks, and loss of open water habitat from encroaching vegetation like blackberry, cattails, and arundo, to name a few.
Ecology & Habitat

Description

See original description in Hershler (1988).

Habitat

They are typically found only in the headspring and upper sections of the outflow. The genus Pyrgulopsis is generally found on rock or aquatic macrophytes in moderate current. Because springsnails have only a partial operculum, they cannot withstand any desiccation, and occur only in water that is perennially flowing (Hershler and Landye, 1988).
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN1
ProvinceRankNative
ArizonaS1Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
2 - Agriculture & aquacultureRestricted (11-30%)Serious - moderateHigh (continuing)
2.3 - Livestock farming & ranchingRestricted (11-30%)Serious - moderateHigh (continuing)
2.3.2 - Small-holder grazing, ranching or farmingRestricted (11-30%)Serious - moderateHigh (continuing)
6 - Human intrusions & disturbanceRestricted (11-30%)Serious - moderateHigh (continuing)
6.1 - Recreational activitiesRestricted (11-30%)Serious - moderateHigh (continuing)
7 - Natural system modificationsPervasive - largeSerious - moderateHigh (continuing)
7.1 - Fire & fire suppressionPervasive - largeSerious - moderateHigh (continuing)
7.2.4 - Abstraction of surface water (unknown use)Pervasive - largeSerious - moderateHigh (continuing)
7.2.8 - Abstraction of ground water (unknown use)Pervasive - largeSerious - moderateHigh (continuing)
8 - Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseasesPervasive - largeExtreme - moderateHigh (continuing)
8.1 - Invasive non-native/alien species/diseasesPervasive - largeExtreme - moderateHigh (continuing)
11 - Climate change & severe weather———

—

Roadless Areas (1)
Arizona (1)
AreaForestAcres
Boulder CanyonCoconino National Forest4,554
References (6)
  1. 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
  2. Hershler, R. 1994. A review of the North American freshwater snail genus <i>Pyrgulopsis </i>(Hydrobiidae). Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology, 554: 1-115.
  3. Hershler, R. and J.J. Landye. 1988. Arizona Hydrobiidae (Prosobranchia: Rissoacea). Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology, 459: 1-58.
  4. Johnson, P.D., A.E. Bogan, K.M. Brown, N.M. Burkhead, J.R. Cordeiro, J.T. Garner, P.D. Hartfield, D.A.W. Lepitzki, G.L. Mackie, E. Pip, T.A. Tarpley, J.S. Tiemann, N.V. Whelan, and E.E Strong. 2013. Conservation status of freshwater gastropods of Canada and the United States. Fisheries 38(6):247-282.
  5. Marks, J.C., G.A. Haden, E. Dinger, and K. Adams. 2005. A survey of the aquatic community at Fossil Creek, AZ. Report to the Arizona Game and Fish Department, Heritage Grant I03003. 96 pp.
  6. 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.