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 (Schutt & Sesen, 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 Tavsantepe village and a private farm in Diyarbakir, 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.