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Columbia Pebblesnail - Fluminicola fuscus
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General Description
Fluminicola fuscus formerly known as Fluminicola columbianus is a short spired snail in the family Hydrobiidae (Spring snails) with an operculum that is restricted to medium to large rivers, in swift current on stable gravel to boulder substrate in cold, unpolluted, highly oxygenated water. They have been considered candidate speices for listing under the ESA, but were removed from the list. This species has been extirpated from the middle and upper Columbia River and it's tributaries in Washington, Idaho, and British Columbia, and may be extinct in the lower Columbia River in Washington and Oregon. Species possibly occurred in Montana, but evidence is speculative (Frest and Johannes 1995). Is still extant in some tributaries in Washington.
Range Comments
Originally known from the Lower Snake and Columbia river drainages in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, British Columbia, and possibly Montana (Frest and Johannes 1995, Hershler and Frest 1996). Has been extirpated from the middle and upper Columbia River in Washington, and British Columbia, and may be extinct in the lower Columbia River in Washington and Oregon (Frest and Johannes 1995). Originally present in most major Montana tributaries of the Columbia River; if it did occur it is likely extinct in Montana (Frest & Johannes 1995). Lysne and Pierce (2009) found it abundant in Crystal Creek-Spring Creek, Blaine County, Idaho. Lysne and Clark (2009) found it in the Bruneau River (survey area from Snake River confluence upstream to Hot Creek- 41 km) in Idaho. Kootenai River populations in British Columbia also appear to be extirpated.
Migration
Sedentary.
Habitat
Restricted to medium to large rivers, in swift current on stable gravel to boulder substrate in cold, unpolluted, highly oxygenated water.
Ecology
Restricted to medium to large rivers, in swift current on stable gravel to boulder substrate in cold, unpolluted, highly oxygenated water.
Management
IF it existed, Montana's population is presumed extirpated, probably due to dams and pollution problems on the Clark Fork River.
Threats or Limiting Factors
Impoundments, loss of hard substrate habitat, warming, and nutrient enhancement, are believed to be threats.
References
Literature Cited AboveLegend: Fluminicola (Hydrobiidae ). Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology, 583: 1-41.
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