Photos / Sounds

What

Wong's Pyrg (Pyrgulopsis wongi)

Observer

coreyjlange

Date

February 17, 2020 12:06 PM CST

Description

These Pyrgulopsis snails were found in two shallow springs within the township and range described for the type locality of Pyrgulopsis ruinosa.

Pyrgulopsis ruinosa was formally considered extinct in 1998 when Hershler (1998) stated, "Snails were collected in the shallow outflow, and were absent both in the spring pool and in other springs of this complex. This species has not been collected on subsequent visits to this now degraded area and is probably extinct." Hershler (1998) believed that Pyrgulopsis ruinosa was extinct when he described the species.

Hurt (2004) states, “Three described species of Pyrgulopsis have gone extinct since their description in the early 1900s and it is likely that other species have been lost before they have been discovered.” Three species of Nevada Pyrgulopsis are presumed to be extinct-- the Carinate Duckwater Pyrg (Pyrgulopsis carinata) from Nye County, the Fish Lake Pyrg (Pyrgulopsis ruinosa) from Esmeralda County, and the Corded Pyrg from Washoe County (Hershler and Thompson 1987, Hershler 1998).

Pyrgulopsis carinata was refound in 2007 and 2009, so that species is no longer classified as extinct.

Sada and Vinyard (2002) reported that extinction of P. ruinosa occurred after springs were impounded on the McNett Ranch in Fish Lake Valley, Esmeralda County, Nevada.

I am not aware of any subsequent searches for this species, but in every publication and report since 1998, Pyrgulopsis ruinosa has been classified as extinct (Hershler and Liu 2017, Hurt 2004, Johnson et al. 2013, Sada 2009).

Based on location alone, these Pyrgulopsis snails seem to be the long-thought extinct species, Pyrgulopsis ruinosa!!! I will be conducting subsequent visits to the springs to collect specimens for genetic and morphological analysis to confirm their identity.

Hershler, R. 1998. A systematic review of the hydrobiid snails (Gastropoda: Rissooidea) of the Great Basin, western United States, Part I. Genus Pyrgulopsis. The Veliger 41(1):1-132.

Hershler, R. and H.P. Liu. 2017. Annotated checklist of freshwater Truncatelloidean gastropods of the western United States, with an illustrated key to the Genera. U.S. Department of the Interior: Bureau of Land Management.

Hurt, C.R. 2004. Genetic divergence, population structure and historical demography of rare springsnails (Pyrgulopsis) in the lower Colorado River basin. Molecular Ecology 13:1173–1187.

Johnson, P., A. Bogan, K. Brown, N. Burkhead, J. Cordeiro, J. Garner, P. Hartfield, D. Lepitzki, G. Mackie, E. Pip, E. Tarpley, T. Tiemann, N. Whelan, and E. Strong. 2013. Conservation status of freshwater gastropods of Canada and the United States. Fisheries. 38. 247. 10.1080/03632415.2013.785396.

Sada, D.W. 2009. A guide to springsnail (Family Hydrobiidae) identification and monitoring. Desert Research Institute.

Photos / Sounds

What

Banner Clubtail (Hylogomphus apomyius)

Observer

greglasley

Date

April 2, 2019 03:09 PM CDT

Description

we had a very nice time photographing this very local species not often observed in Texas.We saw at least 4 different individuals including a pair in copula. Shots of the pair, perched on my finger, will be posted later by nancynorman and briangooding

Photos / Sounds

What

Sarracenia Spiketail (Cordulegaster sarracenia)

Observer

greglasley

Date

April 2019

Place

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Description

One of the targets of our trip was this species and we were fortunate to find three today. These shots show a perched male. Two of the shots show @briangooding and @nancynorman photographing this species. This is a very rare and local species of far east Texas and western Louisiana

Photos / Sounds

What

Hoodwinker Mola (Mola tecta)

Observer

tomleeturner

Date

February 19, 2019 05:17 PM PST

Description

I am 6 feet from finger tip to finger tip. Big fish!

Photos / Sounds

What

Green-striped Grasshopper (Chortophaga viridifasciata)

Observer

pufferchung

Date

February 6, 2019 05:00 PM CST

Description

I am not sure what this one is.

Photos / Sounds

What

Giant False Brook Salamander (Isthmura gigantea)

Observer

abel22

Place

Puebla, MX (Google, OSM)

Photos / Sounds

What

Grey Fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus)

Observer

oddfitz

Date

October 6, 2017 11:45 AM CDT

Description

I had been trying and failing to get some pic's of a Stellar's Jay for about 5 minutes in the shade of this same tree and had that "being watched" feeling. He was about 10 feet up the tree and never budged for the 10 minutes I was there

Photos / Sounds

What

Jaguar (Panthera onca)

Observer

greglasley

Date

August 2017

Description

These were the first Jaguars we encountered on our first boat ride on the Cuiaba River hoping to see these animals. This pair was loafing on a hot afternoon along a sand bank of the river. The pair mated several times. Later the female came to the edge of the river to drink.

Cuiaba River,
near Porto Jofre,
Pantanal,
Brazil
12 August 2017

Photos / Sounds

What

Western Coachwhip (Masticophis flagellum ssp. testaceus)

Observer

mlgray12

Date

May 1, 2017 03:36 PM CDT

Description

Western Coachwhip that showed up close to my water drip estimate snake close to 4 feet in length

Photos / Sounds

What

Texas Coralsnake (Micrurus tener)

Observer

ashleytwahlberg

Date

June 2016

Place

Private

Description

Harris Co, TX. Very neat aberrant coral!

Photos / Sounds

What

Texas Coralsnake (Micrurus tener)

Observer

txherpbird

Date

June 5, 2017 08:55 PM CDT

Description

74 degrees F., light rain

Eating DeKay's Brown snake

Photos / Sounds

What

Coyote (Canis latrans)

Observer

oddfitz

Date

December 29, 2014 02:09 AM CST

Description

One of my favorite game camera captures.