Mexipyrgus

Mexipyrgus
A series of shells of Mexipyrgus carranzae, showing variation in size, shell sculpture, and color
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Caenogastropoda
Order: Littorinimorpha
Family: Cochliopidae
Genus: Mexipyrgus
Taylor, 1966
Species:
M. carranzae
Binomial name
Mexipyrgus carranzae
Taylor, 1966
Synonyms
  • Mexipyrgus churinceanus Taylor, 1966
  • Mexipyrgus escobedae Taylor, 1966
  • Mexipyrgus lugoi Taylor, 1966
  • Mexipyrgus mojarralis Taylor, 1966
  • Mexipyrgus multilineatus Taylor, 1966

Mexipyrgus is a monotypic genus of very small freshwater snails, aquatic gastropod mollusks in the family Cochliopidae.

Distribution

This genus is endemic to Cuatro Ciénegas valley, in Chihuahuan Desert, Mexico.

Ecology

Mexipyrgus is generally found only in soft sediment.

Water lily Nymphaea ampla is the most common aquatic macrophyte in abundance in its habitats. According to the isotope analysis by Chaves-Campos et al. (2012) it is probable that Mexipyrgus churinceanus feed on water lily Nymphaea ampla organic matter metabolized by sediment bacteria.

Predators include the specialized snail-eating (molluscivorous) cichlid fish Herichthys minckleyi.

References

  1. ↑ Pastorino, G. & Darrigan, G. (2011). "Mexipyrgus carranzae". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2011. IUCN: e.T189222A8703369. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2011-2.RLTS.T189222A8703369.en. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
  2. ↑ Bouchet, P. (2014). Mexipyrgus D. W. Taylor, 1966. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=723425 on 2014-11-16
  3. ↑ Chaves-Campos J., Johnson S. G. & Hulsey C. D. (2011). "Spatial Geographic Mosaic in an Aquatic Predator-Prey Network". PLoS ONE 6(7): e22472. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0022472.  This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 2.0 license.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Chaves-Campos J., Coghill L. M., García de León F. J. & Johnson S. G. (2012). "The Effect of Aquatic Plant Abundance on Shell Crushing Resistance in a Freshwater Snail". PLoS ONE 7(9): e44374. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0044374.
  5. ↑ Chaves-Campos J., Johnson S. G. & Hulsey C. D. (2011). "Spatial Geographic Mosaic in an Aquatic Predator-Prey Network". PLoS ONE 6(7): e22472. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0022472.

Further reading