Spring Mountains Springsnail --something fishy going on here? |
General: We don't often think of snails in the Mojave Desert, but springsnails can be found in springs throughout the desert.
Because their habitat (i.e., spring pools in the desert) always is in danger of drying out, springsnails are considered species of
concern. Springsnails probably were distributed widely throughout the region during the last ice age, but now they are
mostly restricted to the remaining springs and creeks.
Spring Snails eat algae and detritus.
Taxonomy: Family Hydrobiidae. |
Spring Mountains Springsnails on a small rock |
The Spring Mountains Springsnail (Pyrgulopsis deaconi) can
be found in Red and Willow
Springs in Red
Rock Canyon NCA, in Kiup Spring on Mt. Charleston,
and in Pahrump Spring on the west side of Mt. Charleston. Another
species, the Southeast Nevada Springsnail (Pyrgulopsis turbatrix), occurs in Red Rock Canyon NCA and can be found in Lost
Creek, Willow Creek, and La Madre
Spring. Other species of Springsnails occur in Corn Creek
Spring and Blue Point Spring.
Please be careful around springs so as not to damage the habitat or injure the snails. Don't wash in springs because soap
will hurt them. Goldfish and other non-native species that people put in springs are a problem for springsnails too. |