Polygyriscus

Polygyriscus is a genus of minute air-breathing land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Polygyridae. This is a monotypic genus[1] of snails containing the single species Polygyriscus virginianus, known commonly as the Virginia fringed mountain snail or the Virginia coil.[2] That species is endemic to the State of Virginia in the United States.

Virginia fringed mountain snail
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Mollusca
Class:
Gastropoda
(unranked):
clade Heterobranchia
clade Euthyneura
clade Panpulmonata
clade Eupulmonata
clade Stylommatophora
informal group Sigmurethra
Superfamily:
Helicoidea
Family:
Polygyridae
Genus:
Polygyriscus
Species:
P. virginianus
Binomial name
Polygyriscus virginianus
(P. R. Burch, 1947)

The Virginia coil was listed as federally endangered species on 2 August 1978.[3]

This snail was described in 1947. It is very rare; the snail has only been seen on bluffs along the New River in Pulaski County, Virginia. Only four adult specimens have been observed since 1978, and no juveniles have been seen since 1971. The snail is, however, difficult to find because it is only 4 millimeters long and may burrow up to 2 meters into the soil.[1]

References
  1. USFWS. Polygyriscus virginianus Five-year Review. January 2008.
  2. Polygyriscus virginianus. The Nature Conservancy.
  3. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. "Species Profile: Virginia fringed mountain snail (Polygyriscus virginianus)". U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Accessed 4 October 2011.


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