Tag Archives: Bythinellidae

Bythinella limnopsis Letourneux & Bourguignat

Kairouan Spring Snail (Bythinella limnopsis)  

This species, whose taxonomical classification cannot be completely resolved, was found only at two places in Tunisia, in several springs near the town of Qairawan, as well as in the basin of an ancient Roman Spring Sanctuary near the town of Zaghouan.  

The species was last seen in 1887, and has not been found since, despite several surveys, and is now considered extinct.  

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edited: 04.11.2017

Bythinella mauritanica Letourneux & Bourguignat

Temple Spring Snail (Bythinella mauritanica 

The Temple Spring Snail species was found only once in the year 1887, in the basin of an ancient Roman Spring Sanctuary near the town of Zaghouan in Tunisia.  

Because it was never found again, the species is now considered extinct.  

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edited: 04.11.2017

Bythinella gibbosa (Moquin-Tandon)

Humped Spring Snail (Bythinella gibbosa 

This species was described in 1856.  

The Humped Spring Snail occurred in several springs in the environment of the town of Toulouse in the Haute-Garonne Department, France.  

The original habitat of the species disappeared due to the spread of the town, and all localities, where the species was formerly found, are now suburbs of Toulouse, and thus the species is considered extinct.  

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edited: 04.11.2017

Bythinella eutrepha (Paladilhe)

Lez Spring Snail (Bythinella eutrepha)  

This species was described in 1867.  

The Lez Spring Snail inhabited several groundwater-fed springs, but was originally described based on empty shells, which had been found in the flood line debris of the Lez River in the Hérault Department, France.  

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This species is now most probably extinct – recent records are lacking – if not, so it is extremely threatened by groundwater pollution, not at least by herbicides and pesticides from the nearby vineyards.  

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References:  

[1] V. Prié; J.-M. Bichain: Phylogenetic relationships and description of a new stygobite species of Bythinella (Mollusca, Gastropoda, Caenogastropoda, Amnicolidae) from southern France. Zoostystema 31(4): 987-1000. 2009  

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Depiction from: ‘A. Paladilhe: Nouvelles Miscellanées Malacologiques. Paris: Chez Savy 1866-1869’  

(public domain)

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edited: 04.11.2017

Bythinella microcochlia Letourneux & Bourguignat

Dwarf Spring Snail (Bythinella microcochlia)  

This species was found only once at the end of the 19th century near the town of Oudref in the Gabès Governorate in Tunisia.  

Searches in the 70s of the 20th century failed to find any specimens, and the species is considered extinct since then.  

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edited: 04.11.2017

Bythinella punica (Letourneux & Bourguignat)

Scarlet Spring Snail (Bythinella punica 

The Scarlet Spring Snail inhabited springs near the city of Enfidaville in the Sousse Governorate, Tunisia, a habitat that no longer exists.  

The last living members of this species were found at the end of the 19th century.  

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It is possible, however, that this species is identical with the likewise extinct Kairouan Spring Snail (Bythinella limnopsis Letourneux & Bourguignat).  

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Another tiny spring-snail species whose name appears in several lists of extinct molluscs (Mercuria punica (Letourneux & Bourguignat)) very likely is identical with this species, but if it indeed turns out to be valid however, it must be placed in a different family (Hydrobiidae). [1]

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References:

[1] Peter Glöer; Hans D. Boeters; Frank Walther: Species of the genus Mercuria Boeters, 1971 (Caenogastropoda: Truncatelloides: Hydrobiidae) from the European Mediterranean region, Morocco and Madeira, with descriptions of new species. Folia Malacologica 23(4): 279-291. 2015

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edited: 05.05.2019