Taxonomy
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Mollusca
- Class: Gastropoda
- Superfamily: Cerithioidea
- Family: Pleuroceridae
- Genus: Elimia
- Species: Elimia acuta (Say, 1822)
Common name
No widely recognized common name is documented in major encyclopedic references.
Description
Elimia acuta is a freshwater snail characterized by an elongated, conical shell with a relatively acute apex. Shell coloration is typically dark brown to black, often with faint growth lines. Like other pleurocerids, it possesses an operculum that seals the aperture when the animal retracts.
Distribution and habitat
The species is reported from the United States, primarily within the Ohio River basin and adjacent tributaries. It inhabits lotic (flowing) freshwater systems, favoring streams and rivers with moderate to swift currents and hard, rocky substrates.
Ecology
Elimia species are grazers that feed on periphytic algae and biofilm on submerged surfaces. Reproduction is oviparous; females lay egg capsules attached to hard substrates. Detailed life‑history traits for E. acuta have not been extensively documented.
Conservation status
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has not evaluated Elimia acuta; therefore, its global conservation status is listed as “Not Evaluated.” Regional assessments indicate that habitat alteration (e.g., dam construction, sedimentation) can impact pleurocerid populations, but specific threats to E. acuta have not been quantified in major databases.
References
- Say, T. (1822). Descriptions of new species of mollusks. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia.
- MolluscaBase (2023). Elimia acuta (Say, 1822). Accessed via World Register of Marine Species.
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (2023). Pleuroceridae family overview.
Note: Information presented reflects data available in recognized taxonomic and conservation databases. Where precise details are lacking, the entry reflects the current limits of encyclopedic documentation.
