Amnicola


Amnicola is a genus of very small freshwater snails which have an operculum. Amnicola species are aquatic prosobranch gastropod mollusks belonging to the family Amnicolidae according to the taxonomy of the Gastropoda (Bouchet & Rocroi, 2005).
Amnicola is the type genus of the family Amnicolidae.

Description

Amnicola are a genus of tiny freshwater snails, typically less than half an inch long. These snails possess an operculum, a hard plate that seals their shell when they retract inside. Their shells are rounded and often as wide as they are tall, usually just a few millimeters in length. Notably, Amnicola snails can survive in warm water and low-oxygen conditions. Their shells generally exhibit a tan to light brown coloration.
Amnicola snails have high-spired shells ranging from 1/8th to 1/4 inch in height. These shells typically exhibit a brownish color with subtle shading and feature up to 8 convex whorls. The masked dusky snail relies on gills for respiration, making it dependent on dissolved oxygen in the water.

Habitat

Populations are typically found in still waters environments, but can also be commonly collected in slow-moving rivers, often on woody debris.

Food habits

Amnicola populations appear to be grazers of diatoms and other periphyton. They in turn they are preyed upon by crayfish and sunfish .

Species

Species in the genus Amnicola include:

Synonyms