Conservation Efforts
Springsnail Description
Springsnails, member of the genus Pyrgulopsis, are a fully aquatic genus of species that live in streams and seeps across much of the Western United States. Springsnail are a small species, with sizes ranging between 1.5 to 9 millimeters in length. Most springsnails live for approximately one year and will lay small eggs either seasonally or year round depending on species.
Springsnails play an important role in the environment by controlling the growth of algae and helping maintain the water quality of their aquatic habitat, which many animals rely on for survival. They are also help to recycle much-needed nutrients through the environment by consuming dead plants and other micro-biotic materials.
The Page springsnail (Pyrgulopsis morrisoni), is a small freshwater aquatic snail that is endemic to the series of springs near Oak Creek outside of the town of Page Springs Arizona. They are a medium sized member of the Hydrobiidfamily, measuring between 2.5- 3mm as adults, and can be as small as 0.3 millimeters at the time of hatching.
Three Forks springsnails (Pyrgulopsis trivialis), are found in the Three Forks springs and Boneyard Bog in the White Mountains of East-Central Arizona. The total size of their current habitat is only 0.1 km². They can reach adult sizes of around 2 – 2.5 millimeters and have a dark brown-black coloration to their shell.
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