Habitat
Pleurocera acuta is a freshwater snail that lives in the
lakes and streams of the Midwest United States
(Benson,
2011; NatureServe, 2011). Specifically they are found in the Ohio River, Great Lakes drainages, and part of
the northwestern Mississippi drainages from Kansas to Nebraska
(Benson,
2011; NatureServe, 2011). There are cases where Pleurocera
acuta has been found as east as the St. Lawrence drainage in
Lake Champlain Vermont or as north as Bayfield Wisconsin
(Goodrich, 1939).
According to a study done by
B.C. Dazo in which a habitat was cultivated, these snails prefer a
stream with fairly constant water currents to keep the water clean and
oxygen levels fair
(Dazo, 1965). They prefer to inhabit large bodies of water in areas
ranging from three feet to only a few inches deep
(Kansas Department
of Wildlife, 2011). They live their life as bottom dwellers, feeding on
decomposing organic material at the bottom of streams and lakes
(Kansas Department
of Wildlife, 2011). Classifying their type of feeding as
detrivorous
(Dazo, 1965).
Dazo also found that the ideal pH for Pleurocera acuta was anywhere from 8.0
to 8.4 (Dazo, 1965).
It is important for snails to stay out of acidic waters because it can
contribute to shell corrosion
(Hickman, 2009).
Carbon dioxide levels in the study were ideal between 0 and 15 ppm
(Dazo, 1965).
Another interesting link found was the relationship between Pleurocera
habitats and their shell diameter. In shallow, calm habitats the shell
is thinner while in habitats that expose the sharp horn snail to excessive water motion a thicker shell develops
(Goodrich, 1939).
This is a protective adaptation to withstand the increased water pressure in
high current environments
(Goodrich, 1939).
Freshwater and terrestrial snails are one of the highest risk animals facing
extinction in the United States and Canada
(Hickman, 1965).
In Kansas, one of Pleurocera acuta's historical locations, they are only
found in a few counties and are now protected under the Kansas Nongame and
Endangered Species Conservation Act
(Kansas Department
of Wildlife, 2011).
For more information on Pleurocera acuta and other species populations in Kansas, please visit the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism website.