First live imagery, morphological insights, and new locations of the near-threatened endemic microsnail Sheitanok amidicus (Caenogastropoda: Hydrobiidae) from southeast Turkey

ABSTRACT

This study presents new insights into the near-threatened endemic microsnail Sheitanok amidicus (Schütt & Şeşen, 1991), shedding light on its distribution and morphological characteristics, which have never been documented alive. Surveys conducted in 2023 uncovered two previously unknown localities where the species thrives: stenothermic springs in Tavşantepe village and a private farm in Diyarbakır, Turkey. The snail has whitish-grey body tissue, tentacles with an average length of 0.3 mm, and a foot extending up to 2 mm with grey dots on the upper part. The oval-shaped operculum has an average height and width of 0.4 and 0.3 mm, respectively. The shell width and height is 1.0 mm and 0.7 mm, respectively. The snail has unique features including an orange operculum, heart-shaped blackish mouth parts and two blackish eyes at the base of its tentacles. Previously, the species was known to inhabit seven locations in Southeast Turkey. Its near-threatened status on the IUCN Red List highlights the urgency of conservation efforts. The identification of these new locations provides hope for reducing the risk of extinction for S. amidicus. Additionally, describing the snail's external characteristics would aid in systematic classification of newly found species within this monotypic genus.

KEYWORDS:

• Freshwater snail
• morphological features
• monotypic genus
• stenothermic springs

Acknowledgements

We extend our sincere gratitude to Metin Aksoy for granting us permission to conduct research in the spring on his private farm. İhsan Ekin would also like to express his heartfelt appreciation to the late Esma Ekin, his mother, for her unwavering support and dedication throughout his life. Her encouragement and guidance have been invaluable in the pursuit of scientific knowledge.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).