# Mimic cavesnail

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Species of gastropod

Mimic cavesnail Conservation status Vulnerable (IUCN 2.3)[1] Critically Imperiled (NatureServe)[2] Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Mollusca Class: Gastropoda Subclass: Caenogastropoda Order: Littorinimorpha Family: Lithoglyphidae Genus: Phreatodrobia Species: P. imitata Binomial name Phreatodrobia imitata Hershler & Longley, 1986[3]

The **mimic cavesnail**, [scientific name](/source/Scientific_name) ***Phreatodrobia imitata***, is a [species](/source/Species) of very small or minute [freshwater snail](/source/Freshwater_snail) with a [gill](/source/Gill) and an [operculum](/source/Operculum_(gastropod)), an aquatic [gastropod](/source/Gastropod) [mollusk](/source/Mollusk) in the [family](/source/Family_(taxonomy)) [Hydrobiidae](/source/Hydrobiidae).[4]

## Distribution

This species is [endemic](/source/Endemism) to [Texas](/source/Texas) in the [United States](/source/United_States),[1] where it is known from three [wells](/source/Well) that penetrate the [Edwards Aquifer](/source/Edwards_Aquifer).[2][5]: 83373 The [type locality](/source/Type_locality_(biology)) is Verstraeten Well, [Bexar County, Texas](/source/Bexar_County%2C_Texas).[3]

## Description

The [shell](/source/Gastropod_shell) has 3.3 to 3.5 [whorls](/source/Whorl_(mollusc)).[3] The average height of the shell is 1.01 to 1.03 mm.[3] The operculum is thin and the [radula](/source/Radula) is trapezoidal.[5]: 83373

## Conservation

The mimic cavesnail was denied federal listing as an endangered species in 2023.[5] Threats to the snail include physical expulsion via wells, loss of aquifer water due to imbalances between recharge and extraction and [groundwater contamination](/source/Groundwater_contamination).[5]: 83373–83374 The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service stated that although [climate change](/source/Climate_change) is likely to reduce aquifer recharge, human extraction will be reduced concomitantly due to existing regulations protecting the aquifer. The Fish and Wildlife Service was unable to conclude whether groundwater contamination will cause significant impacts, due to the snail's [benthic](/source/Benthic) habitat within the large volume of the aquifer and the uncertain magnitude of impact of [urbanization](/source/Urbanization) around the city of San Antonio. Finally, as of 2023, two of the three wells that ejected snails were no longer functioning, and no new wells have been drilled since 1995 in the area of analysis (Bexar County, Texas).[5]: 83373–83374

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-IUCN_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-IUCN_1-1) Bogan, A.E. (1996). ["*Phreatodrobia imitata*"](https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/17077/6797152). *[IUCN Red List of Threatened Species](/source/IUCN_Red_List)*. **1996** e.T17077A6797152. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.2305/IUCN.UK.1996.RLTS.T17077A6797152.en](https://doi.org/10.2305%2FIUCN.UK.1996.RLTS.T17077A6797152.en). Retrieved 17 November 2021.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-NatureServe_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-NatureServe_2-1) [NatureServe](/source/NatureServe). ["*Phreatodrobia imitata*"](https://explorer.natureserve.org/Taxon/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.119860/). *NatureServe Explorer*. Arlington, Virginia. Retrieved 4 June 2023.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Hershler_1986_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Hershler_1986_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Hershler_1986_3-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Hershler_1986_3-3) Hershler R. & Longley G. (1986). "Phreatic hydrobiids (Gastropoda: Prosobranchia) from the [Edwards](/source/Edwards_Aquifer) ([Balcones Fault](/source/Balcones_Fault) Zone) Aquifer region, south-central Texas". *[Malacologia](/source/Malacologia)* **27**(1): [127](https://archive.org/stream/malacologia271986inst#page/126/mode/2up)-172. [page 151](https://archive.org/stream/malacoloia271986inst#page/150/mode/2up).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Hershler_1990_4-0)** Hershler R. & Thompson F. G. (1990). "*Antrorbis breweri*, a new genus and species of hydrobiid cavesnail (Gastropoda) from Coosa River Basin, northeastern Alabama". *[Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington](/source/Proceedings_of_the_Biological_Society_of_Washington)* **103**(l): 197-204. [PDF](http://si-pddr.si.edu/jspui/bitstream/10088/11322/1/iz_HershlerThompson1990.pdf).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-fr88_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-fr88_5-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-fr88_5-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-fr88_5-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-fr88_5-4) U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Species Assessment Team, Ecological Services Program (29 November 2023). "Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Seven Species Not Warranted for Listing as Endangered or Threatened Species". *Federal Register*. **88** (228): 83368–83377. 88 [FR](/source/Federal_Register) [83368](https://www.federalregister.gov/citation/88-FR-83368)

Taxon identifiers Phreatodrobia imitata Wikidata: Q3169303 ECOS: 7006 EoL: 483758 GBIF: 2299962 iNaturalist: 109342 IRMNG: 10596115 ITIS: 70693 IUCN: 17077 NatureServe: 2.119860 Open Tree of Life: 2892673 SeaLifeBase: 2833 WoRMS: 1290155

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