Inflectarius ferrissi - Smoky Mountain Covert

Habitat

Inflectarius ferrissi has a very limited geographic range, and it is typically found in locations with elevations above 2,000 feet (Hubricht, 1985)I. ferrissi is mainly found in the Eastern United States, and it is found primarily in the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee and North Carolina (Solem, 1955).  The map on this page shows the general distribution of I. ferrissi (Hubricht, 1985).

The ecology of I. ferrissi is very closely connected to the geology of the area (Solem, 1955).  Its habitat is solely terrestrial, and it may be found under rock ledges, in rock piles, and about logs (Hubricht, 1985)I. ferrissi is generally solitary or is found in groups of two or three individuals, and it lives in areas of extreme moisture (Solem, 1955).  All known localities are areas in which contain a flow of seepage water (Solem, 1955)I. ferrissi is one of the only members of its family to tolerate a constant flow of water over its microhabitat, and because of this, it occupies a peculiar niche that is rarely invaded by other snails (Solem, 1955).

Other organisms that live within the same habitat as I. ferrissi include salamanders, frogs, birds, turtles, lizards, and snakes (National Park Service, 2010).  Many of these organisms are predators of I. ferrissi (National Park Service, 2010).

The forests of the Great Smoky Mountains are known worldwide for their biological diversity, and they contain over 1,500 species of known flowering plants and over 4,000 species of known non-flowering plants (National Park Service, 2010).  The Great Smoky Mountains are among the tallest mountains in the Appalachian chain, and this, along with previous glacial influence, help to account for the great diversity found within the mountains (National Park Service, 2010).  In high country, the Great Smoky Mountains receive over 85 feet of rainfall yearly, and this helps to supply many of the mountain streams and rivers found within the mountains (National Park Service, 2010).  Many of the boulders found in the mountains originated during the glacial period when they broke off of cliffs and ledges during periods of freezing and thawing (National Park Service, 2010).  The rocks and rock piles in the Great Smoky Mountains that serve as homes to many organisms, including I. ferrissi, are primarily sedimentary and were formed through the accumulation of clay, silt, sand, gravel (National Park Service, 2010).

 

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