Image 1 of 1
Less

Bythinella029.jpg

Add to Lightbox Download

ST MAURICE, FRANCE: In the tracks of the Bythinella, new biological species.
Captive of a "hairy" * since immemorial time, this newly discovered troglobian species gives us many informations about the water quality.
* (water system underground drainage)

Vincent PRIE, a french biologist, found a new biological species in a cave of the south of France.
A population of the aquatic gastropod Bythinella which isn't conform to many others hypogean or epigean species described was discovered in a stream of a cave in southern France.
This snail, smaller than a grain of rice, who lives in total darkness and in water at 10 ° is a "water marker. "
This is the only one in the family of Bythinella to live in this environment and it is endemic to southern Causses.
After several years of research, Vincent PRIE biologist and malacologist for "Biotope" and Jean Michel Bichain, researcher at the MNHN, discovered them in a cave nestled in the heart of the circus Navacelles, in the cave of the Folatière.
For affirm, without a doubt, the emergence of this new species, the two scientists have used morphometry and genetics.
The animal is completely depigmented and, in partially, it lost his eyes visible in the form of simple stains.
This species, which maybe exists since many thousand of years, can be considered rare and micro-endemic; therefore potentially vulnerable according to IUCN criteria (red lists of endangered species).
It can disappears very quickly, just one pollution of the aquifers might suffice.

Copyright
Bony/MAYA-Press
Image Size
4288x2848 / 10.5MB
Keywords
Contained in galleries
In the step of Bythinella. New biological species.
ST MAURICE, FRANCE: In the tracks of the Bythinella, new biological species.<br /> Captive of a "hairy" * since immemorial time, this newly discovered troglobian species gives us many informations about the water quality.<br /> * (water system underground drainage)<br /> <br /> Vincent PRIE, a french biologist, found a new biological species in a cave of the south of France.<br /> A population of the aquatic gastropod Bythinella which isn't conform to many others hypogean or epigean species described was discovered in a stream of a cave in southern France.<br /> This snail, smaller than a grain of rice, who lives in total darkness and in water at 10 ° is a "water marker. "<br /> This is the only one in the family of Bythinella to live in this environment and it is endemic to southern Causses.<br /> After several years of research, Vincent PRIE biologist and malacologist for "Biotope" and Jean Michel Bichain, researcher at the MNHN, discovered them in a cave nestled in the heart of the circus Navacelles, in the cave of the Folatière.<br /> For affirm, without a doubt, the emergence of this new species, the two scientists have used morphometry and genetics.<br /> The animal is completely depigmented and, in partially, it lost his eyes visible in the form of simple stains.<br /> This species, which maybe exists since many thousand of years, can be considered rare and micro-endemic; therefore potentially vulnerable according to IUCN criteria (red lists of endangered species).<br /> It can disappears very quickly, just one pollution of the aquifers might suffice.