• View of the Monument across the Snake River

    Hagerman Fossil Beds

    National Monument Idaho

Mollusks

Idaho Springsnail

Enlarged view of the Idaho Springsnail

photo courtesy of FWS

The Hagerman area has five species of freshwater snails that are listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act: the Snake River Physa (Physa natricaria), the Lanx (Lanx sp.)the Bliss Rapids snail (Taylorconcha serpenticola), the Utah valvata (Valvata utahensis), and the Idaho springsnail (Pyrgulopsis idahoensis).

The decline of the aquatic mollusk species has been primarily attributed to changes in the river from free-flowing, cold water to impounded, slower, warmer habitats. Another variable is the population increase of non-native invasive aquatic species such as the New Zealand mudsnail (Potamopyrus antipodarum).

Did You Know?

Fossilized turtle shell

An in situ specimen of Clemmys owyheensis (pond turtle) was found out in the Monument.  The field crew also found a jaw with several teeth from Thomomys gidleyi (pocket gopher) and a jaw from Trigonictis idahoensis (grison from the weasel family).