Potamolithus troglobius

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Potamolithus troglobius
Potamolithus troglobius paratype MZSP 27948.png
Apertural view of a shell of Potamolithus troglobius (H = 2.5 mm)
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Caenogastropoda
Order: Littorinimorpha
Family: Tateidae
Genus: Potamolithus
Species:
P. troglobius
Binomial name
Potamolithus troglobius
Simone & Moracchioli, 1994 [1]

Potamolithus troglobius is a species of freshwater snail with an operculum, an aquatic gastropod mollusk in the family Tateidae. [2] A troglobitic species, meaning it is adapted to subterranean habitats, P. troglobius is endemic to the Areias cave system in southeastern Brazil. [3]

Distribution and habitat

This species is known exclusively from its type locality, the Ressurgência das Areias de Água Quente cave in Iporanga, São Paulo, Brazil. The cave is part of the Areias cave system, situated in the southwestern portion of the Lajeado-Bombas karst area, on the right bank of the Betari River. The Areias system includes other caves such as Areias de Cima and Areias de Baixo and is recognized for its rich subterranean biodiversity. [4] P. troglobius is considered a troglobitic species, meaning it is an obligate cave-dweller, adapted to life in complete darkness. [5]

References

  1. ↑ Simone, Luiz Ricardo Lopes De; Moracchioli, Nicoletta (1994). "Hydrobiidae (Gastropoda: Hydrobioidea) from the Ribeira Valley, S.E. Brazil, with descriptions of two new cavernicolous species". Journal of Molluscan Studies. 60 (4): 445–459. doi:10.1093/mollus/60.4.445.
  2. ↑ "Potamolithus troglobius Simone & Moracchioli, 1994". www.gbif.org. Retrieved 28 May 2025.
  3. ↑ Salvador, Rodrigo B.; Silva, Fernanda S.; Cavallari, Daniel C.; Cunha, Carlo M.; Bichuette, Maria E. (2022). "Cave-dwelling gastropods (Mollusca: Gastropoda) of Brazil: state of the art and conservation". Zoologia (Curitiba). 39. doi:10.1590/S1984-4689.v39.e21033.
  4. ↑ Trajano, Eleonora; Gallão, Jonas Eduardo; Bichuette, Maria Elina (2016). "Spots of high diversity of troglobites in Brazil: the challenge of measuring subterranean diversity". Biodiversity and Conservation. 25 (10): 1805–1828. doi:10.1007/s10531-016-1151-5.
  5. ↑ Bichuette, Maria Elina; Trajano, Eleonora (2003). "A population study of epigean and subterranean Potamolithus snails from southeast Brazil (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Hydrobiidae)". Hydrobiologia. 505 (1–3): 107–117. doi:10.1023/B:HYDR.0000007299.26220.b8.
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