Somatogyrus pygmaeus
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Somatogyrus pygmaeus faces severe threats from groundwater depletion and contamination in its extremely limited range within the Edwards Aquifer system of Texas. Urban development and agricultural activities have altered surface water flow patterns and introduced pollutants that directly impact the spring systems this species depends upon. Water extraction for municipal and agricultural use has reduced spring flow rates, while chemical runoff from surrounding land use threatens water quality in the few remaining occupied sites.
Habitat
This minute freshwater snail is endemic to artesian springs and spring-fed streams within the Edwards Aquifer region of south-central Texas. It inhabits the shallow, clear waters of limestone springs where it feeds on algae and organic matter in areas with consistent water temperature and flow.
