Oblong rocksnail
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The Oblong rocksnail (Leptoxis compacta) is an endangered gastropod native to the Cahaba River between Helena and Centreville. It was first described in 1854 by J. G. Anthony.
The species had been declared extinct in 2000, but a surviving colony was found in 2011 near the Bibb/Shelby County line by University of Alabama biology graduate student Nathan Whelan. Currently the Alabama Aquatic Biodiversity Center is laboring to introduce the species to other suitable environments.
References
- Whelan N.V., Johnson P.D., Harris P.M. (August 8, 2012) "Rediscovery of Leptoxis compacta (Anthony, 1854) (Gastropoda: Cerithioidea: Pleuroceridae)". PLoS ONE. Vol. 7, No. 8
- Spencer, Thomas (August 9, 2012) "Snail thought extinct found in the Cahaba River." The Birmingham News