Tulotoma

Tulotoma
A live Tulotoma magnifica on a mud substrate
Conservation status
Endangered  (IUCN 2.3) [1]
Imperiled  (NatureServe) [2]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Gastropoda
Subclass:	Caenogastropoda
Order:	Architaenioglossa
Family:	Viviparidae
Genus:	Tulotoma Haldeman, 1840 [3]
Species:	T. magnifica
Binomial name
Tulotoma magnifica (Conrad, 1834) [4]
Synonyms
Paludina magnifica Conrad, 1834

Tulotoma magnifica, common name the Alabama live-bearing snail or tulotoma, is an endangered species of large freshwater snail, an aquatic gastropod mollusk in the family Viviparidae.

Taxonomy

Tulotoma is a monotypic genus, in other words, this is the only species in the genus.

Distribution

This species is endemic to the Coosa River-Alabama River system in Alabama, United States.

Description

The shell of this species is large, solid, thick and imperforate. The shape of the shell is obtusely conic. The spire is elevated. The whorls are flattened, nodulous and carinated. The peristome is thin and continuous. ^[5] The shell can grow fairly large, to more than 25 mm (0.98 in) in height.^{[ citation needed ]} The operculum is concentric, subtriangular, with the inner margin reflected and forming an elevated marginal fold. ^[5]

Apertural view of a small empty shell

Abapertural view of another individual

It is a species with a moderate foot, not produced beyond the snout.^{[ clarification needed ]} The snout is small. The radula is multicuspid. ^[5]

A group of Tulotoma magnifica on mud

A large number of Tulotoma magnifica on mud

References

1. Bogan, A.E. (Mollusc Specialist Group) (2000). "Tulotoma magnifica". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2000 e.T22444A9373341. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2000.RLTS.T22444A9373341.en .
2. NatureServe (1 August 2025). "Tulotoma magnifica". NatureServe Explorer. Arlington, Virginia. Retrieved 4 September 2025.
3. Haldeman S. S. (1840). A monograph of the freshwater univalve mollusca of the United States, including notices of species in other parts of North America1(2): 34-36. Plate 11.
4. Conrad T. A. (1834). New fresh water shells of the United States : with coloured illustrations, and a monograph of the genus Anculotus of Say: also a synopsis of the American Naiades. Philadelphia. Page 48-49. Plate 8, figure 4.
5. Walker B. (1918). "A synopsis of the classification of the freshwater Mollusca of North America, north of Mexico, and a catalogue of the more recently described species, with notes". Miscellaneous Publications6: 214 pp., 1 plate, 233 figures. page 26.

External links

• Tulotoma magnifica at U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service webpage
• Raines B. (25 July 2011). "A good news snail story: This Alabama snail's recovering from brink of extinction". blog.al.com
• Paper on the rediscovery of this species