Bythinella
Encyclopedia
Bythinella is a genus
of very small freshwater snail
s, an aquatic
gastropod mollusk in the family
Amnicolidae
(according to the taxonomy of the Gastropoda by Bouchet & Rocroi, 2005
).
These gonochoristic snail
s are small animals, with a shell length of about 2–4 mm. Amnicola
is a close relative, containing North American
snails with essentially similar appearance and ecology
. The scientific name means "small Bithynia
"; the latter snail genus is somewhat similar at a casual glance (though much larger) but not at all closely related among the Rissooidea
.
s, and sometimes cave
s or groundwater
, from Catalonia
across central Europe
to the Aegean Region
of Turkey
. In and around France
a particularly high diversity of these snails is found. Due to the limited range and special and easily-destroyed habitat
, these snails are liable to become endangered species
.
and subspecies
are recognized at present. However, it is not at all clear that all of those recognized as good species are actually that distinct, and some in fact seem to be local morphs instead of valid taxa. Some undescribed species are also known to exist.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of very small freshwater snail
Snail
Snail is a common name applied to most of the members of the molluscan class Gastropoda that have coiled shells in the adult stage. When the word is used in its most general sense, it includes sea snails, land snails and freshwater snails. The word snail without any qualifier is however more often...
s, an aquatic
Aquatic animal
An aquatic animal is an animal, either vertebrate or invertebrate, which lives in water for most or all of its life. It may breathe air or extract its oxygen from that dissolved in water through specialised organs called gills, or directly through its skin. Natural environments and the animals that...
gastropod mollusk in the family
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
Amnicolidae
Amnicolidae
Amnicolidae is a family of small freshwater snails with a gill and an operculum, aquatic gastropod mollusks.This family is in the superfamily Rissooidea and in the clade Littorinimorpha...
(according to the taxonomy of the Gastropoda by Bouchet & Rocroi, 2005
Taxonomy of the Gastropoda (Bouchet & Rocroi, 2005)
The taxonomy of the Gastropoda as it was revised by Philippe Bouchet and Jean-Pierre Rocroi is currently the most up-to-date overall system for classifying gastropod mollusks...
).
These gonochoristic snail
Snail
Snail is a common name applied to most of the members of the molluscan class Gastropoda that have coiled shells in the adult stage. When the word is used in its most general sense, it includes sea snails, land snails and freshwater snails. The word snail without any qualifier is however more often...
s are small animals, with a shell length of about 2–4 mm. Amnicola
Amnicola
Amnicola is a genus of very small freshwater snails which have an operculum. Amnicola species are aquatic prosobranch gastropod mollusks in the family Amnicolidae according to the taxonomy of the Gastropoda ....
is a close relative, containing North American
North American
North American generally refers to an entity, people, group, or attribute of North America, especially of the United States and Canada together.-Culture:*North American English, a collective term used to describe American English and Canadian English...
snails with essentially similar appearance and ecology
Ecology
Ecology is the scientific study of the relations that living organisms have with respect to each other and their natural environment. Variables of interest to ecologists include the composition, distribution, amount , number, and changing states of organisms within and among ecosystems...
. The scientific name means "small Bithynia
Bithynia (genus)
Bithynia is a genus of small freshwater snails with an operculum, aquatic prosobranch gastropod mollusks in the family Bithyniidae.The diploid chromosome number of Bithynia sp...
"; the latter snail genus is somewhat similar at a casual glance (though much larger) but not at all closely related among the Rissooidea
Rissooidea
Rissooidea, originally named Rissoacea by Grey, 1847, is a large taxonomic superfamily of small and minute saltwater, brackish water, freshwater, and semi-terrestrial snails which have gills and an operculum...
.
Distribution
The present genus occurs in springSpring (hydrosphere)
A spring—also known as a rising or resurgence—is a component of the hydrosphere. Specifically, it is any natural situation where water flows to the surface of the earth from underground...
s, and sometimes cave
Cave
A cave or cavern is a natural underground space large enough for a human to enter. The term applies to natural cavities some part of which is in total darkness. The word cave also includes smaller spaces like rock shelters, sea caves, and grottos.Speleology is the science of exploration and study...
s or groundwater
Groundwater
Groundwater is water located beneath the ground surface in soil pore spaces and in the fractures of rock formations. A unit of rock or an unconsolidated deposit is called an aquifer when it can yield a usable quantity of water. The depth at which soil pore spaces or fractures and voids in rock...
, from Catalonia
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
across central Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
to the Aegean Region
Aegean Region
Aegean Region , is one of the 7 census-defined regions of Turkey, and in Western Asia.It is located in the west part of the country: bounded by Aegean Sea on the west; Marmara Region on the north;...
of Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
. In and around France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
a particularly high diversity of these snails is found. Due to the limited range and special and easily-destroyed habitat
Habitat
* Habitat , a place where a species lives and grows*Human habitat, a place where humans live, work or play** Space habitat, a space station intended as a permanent settlement...
, these snails are liable to become endangered species
Endangered species
An endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters...
.
Species
More than 80 speciesSpecies
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
and subspecies
Subspecies
Subspecies in biological classification, is either a taxonomic rank subordinate to species, ora taxonomic unit in that rank . A subspecies cannot be recognized in isolation: a species will either be recognized as having no subspecies at all or two or more, never just one...
are recognized at present. However, it is not at all clear that all of those recognized as good species are actually that distinct, and some in fact seem to be local morphs instead of valid taxa. Some undescribed species are also known to exist.
- Bythinella austriacaBythinella austriacaBythinella austriaca is a species of very small freshwater snail with an operculum, an aquatic gastropod mollusk in the family Amnicolidae.- Distribution :The distribution of this species is Carpathian ....
- Bythinella badensisBythinella badensisBythinella badensis is a species of very small freshwater snail, an aquatic gastropod mollusk in the family Amnicolidae. This species is endemic to Germany.-References:* Mollusc Specialist Group 1996. . Downloaded on 6 August 2007....
- Bythinella bavaricaBythinella bavaricaBythinella bavarica is a species of species of very small freshwater snail, an aquatic gastropod mollusk in the family Amnicolidae. This species is endemic to Germany.-References:* Mollusc Specialist Group 1996. . Downloaded on 6 August 2007....
- Bythinella bicarinataBythinella bicarinataBythinella bicarinata is a species of very small freshwater snail, an aquatic gastropod mollusk in the family Amnicolidae.- Shell description :...
- synonyms: B. dunkeri, B. lalindei, B. moulinsii, B. poujolensis - Bythinella boulotiBythinella boulotiBythinella bouloti is a species of very small freshwater snail, an aquatic gastropod mollusk in the family Amnicolidae.As of 2002, no living animals had been found. Empty shells were used as the basis for the species description.- Distribution :...
Girardi, Bichain & Wienin, 2002 - Bythinella carinulataBythinella carinulataBythinella carinulata is a species of very small freshwater snail, an aquatic gastropod mollusk in the family Amnicolidae. This snail is endemic to France....
- Bythinella cebennensis (Dupuy, 1851) - synonym: B. anianensis)
- Bythinella cylindricaBythinella cylindricaBythinella cylindrica is a species of very small freshwater snail, an aquatic gastropod mollusk in the family Amnicolidae. This species is endemic to Austria....
- Bythinella eurystoma (Paladilhe, 1870)
- Bythinella galeraeBythinella galeraeBythinella galerae is a species of very small freshwater snail, an aquatic gastropod mollusk in the family Amnicolidae.As of 2002, no living animals had been found. Empty shells were used as the basis for the species description.- Distribution :...
Girardi, Bichain & Wienin, 2002 - Bythinella intermediaBythinella intermediaBythinella intermedia is a recently extinct species of very small freshwater snail, an aquatic gastropod mollusk in the family Amnicolidae.This species used to be endemic to Austria....
- Bythinella pannonica
- Bythinella padiraciBythinella padiraciBythinella padiraci is a species of very small freshwater snail, an aquatic gastropod mollusk in the family Amnicolidae. This snail is endemic to France....
- Bythinella pupoidesBythinella pupoidesBythinella pupoides is a species of very small freshwater snail, an aquatic gastropod mollusk in the family Amnicolidae. This snail is found in France and Switzerland....
- Bythinella robiciana
- Bythinella rubiginosa (Boubee, 1833) - synonym: B. simoniana)
- Bythinella reyniesiiBythinella reyniesiiBythinella reyniesii is a species of very small freshwater snail, an aquatic gastropod mollusk in the family Amnicolidae.- Distribution :These snails live in springs. They were long believed to occur only in Andorra, Austria, and parts of France...
- synonyms: B. compressa, B. parvula - Bythinella schmidtii
- Bythinella vesontianaBythinella vesontianaBythinella vesontiana is a species of very small freshwater snail, an aquatic gastropod mollusk in the family Amnicolidae. This species is endemic to France....
- Bythinella utriculus (Paladilhe, 1874)
- Bythinella viridisBythinella viridisBythinella viridis is a species of very small freshwater snail, an aquatic gastropod mollusk in the family Amnicolidae. This species is found in Belgium and France....
- Bythinella sp. 'Dufort-Lacapelette'
- Bythinella sp. 'Padirac'
- Bythinella sp. 'Rogues'
- Bythinella bertrandi Bernasconi, 2000
- Bythinella jourdei Bernasconi, 2000
- Bythinella pujolensis Bernasconi, 2000
- Bythinella rondelaudi Bernasconi, 2000
- Bythinella troyana Bernasconi, 2000
- Bythinella vimperei Bernasconi, 2000
- Bythinella wawrzineki Bernasconi, 2002
- Bythinella geisserti Boeters & Falkner, 2003