Habitat by Mark Ekiss
This is an image which shows the global distribution of the land snail. Notice how I. verus has only been found in the Great Smokey Mountains, leading people to believe that it may be an endemic species.
Throughout the United States and across the world. terrestrial and
aquatic snails have been the focus of many research projects. However, there
has only been a handful of studies on Inflectarius verus, most of
which
pertain
to the general location of the gastropod. Further funding and research need
to be done to obtain a more complete understanding of I. verus, but
before that happens it can be assumed that the species takes on similar
roles and ecological niches as other related Polygyridae and gastropods.
There are about 160 Polygyridae in the eastern U.S., which constitute about
30% of all land mollusks (Steensma et al. 2009).
Inflectarius verus is know to reside in the eastern part of the U.S.,
around North Carolina and the Great Smokey Mountains in areas of elevation
of up to 3500 ft (Dourson, 2006). Since this is
the only location that I. verus has been found, it is considered to
be an endemic species. Like other Polygyridae, I. verus live in moist, mixed hardwood forests, and they
prefer rock talus slopes (Dourson, 2006). They
have been found in leaf litter, perhaps feeding on fungal mycelia, around
logs or rocks and in mossy areas (Steensma et al.
2009). These areas provide the species with a constant source of water,
moisture, food, shelter, and in wintertime, insulation throughout their
dormant hibernation. However, there have been no findings of I. verus
elsewhere in the U.S., which could make the species endemic to the Great
Smokey Mountains and a reason for it being a species of 'Special Concern' in
North Carolina (Dourson, 2006). Land snails
have a variety of habitat requirements and are very susceptible to
environmental fluctuations and habitat disturbance, such as that from human
activity (Krool, 2003). Studies in various
habitats have demonstrated that terrestrial gastropods, such as I. verus
may serve as indicator species for ecosystems (Steensma
et al. 2009). Further understanding their role in the environment and
their interactions with other organisms will deepen the understanding of the
entire ecosystem in which they live.
Now that you've seen where they live, let's find discover some key Adaptations they have made to become so successful.