Species Profile
Environmental Conservation Online System

Utah Valvata snail (Valvata utahensis)

Kingdom: Animalia
Class: Gastropoda
Order: Heterostropha
Family: Valvatidae

Listing Status:   

General Information

The Utah (desert) valvata snail (Valvata utahensis) is a small freshwater gastropod found primarily in the Snake River of Idaho. The species’ shell is mottled with dark brown, light brown, and opaque sections that appear off-white. The shell has up to four whorls and reaches a maximum size of about 6 millimeters. The snail prefers small pebbles and gravels, cobbles embedded in silt, and submerged aquatic vegetation but is predominantly found in silt substrates. Populations of the species vary largely across its range. The desert valvata is believed to have evolved in the Pleistocene Lake Idaho approximately 400,000 to 1.6 million years ago. Fossils of the species have been collected from California, Nevada, Utah and Idaho, but current populations are only known from Idaho. Recent research has described the species life history and some ecological and physiological aspects of the species biology, but information about the snail’s growth, survival and reproduction are not entirely known. The Utah valvata snail was listed on December 14, 1992 as an endangered species due to threats from proposed hydroelectric development, operation of existing hydroelectric dams, degraded water quality, diversion of water for irrigation and aquaculture, lack of regulatory protections for spring habitats, and invasion of the introduced New Zealand mudsnail. In 1995 the Service described the distribution of the valvata as Snake River mile 579, just below the Thousand Springs Preserve, to Snake River mile 714, just below American Falls Dam. Recent surveys indicate the species is now known to be more widespread than thought at the time of listing, and is tolerant of a variety of habitat conditions such as riverine habitats without spring influence, reservoirs, and springs. Today, it is known to range in the Snake River from RM 582 to the confluence of the South Fork and Henrys Fork, Snake River (RM 837). The species is also known from portions of Box Canyon Creek and the Big Wood River in southern Idaho. The recovery area for the desert valvata extends from Snake River mile 572 to 709.

Lead Region:  Pacific Region (Region 1)
Date Listed: Dec 14, 1992

  • This population has been proposed for delisting
  • States/US Territories in which the Utah Valvata snail is known to occur:  Idaho

» Federal Register Documents

Most Recent Federal Register Documents (Showing 4 of 4 )
Date Citation Page Title
07/16/2009 74 FR 34539 34548 12-Month Finding on a Petition To Remove the Utah (Desert) Valvata Snail (Valvata utahensis) From the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Proposed Rule
06/06/2007 72 FR 31264 31268 90-Day Finding on a Petition To Remove the Utah (Desert) Valvata Snail (Valvata utahensis) from the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife
12/14/1992 57 FR 59244 59257 ETWP; Determination of Endangered or Threatened Status for Five Aquatic Snails in South Central Idaho; 57 FR 59244 59257
12/18/1990 55 FR 51931 51936 ETWP; Proposed Endangered Status for Five Idaho Aquatic Snails; 55 FR 51931 51936

» Recovery

Recovery Plan Information Search
Current Recovery Plan(s)
Date Title Plan Action Status Plan Status
11/26/1995 Snake River Aquatic Species Recovery Plan View Implementation Progress Final
Other Recovery Documents (Showing 1 of 1 )
Date Citation Page Title Document Type
07/16/2009 74 FR 34539 34548 12-Month Finding on a Petition To Remove the Utah (Desert) Valvata Snail (Valvata utahensis) From the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Proposed Rule
  • Notice 12 month petition finding, Warranted
  • Proposed Delisting, Erroneous data
    • Five Year Review
    Date Title
    07/13/2009 Utah Valvata 5-Year Review

    » Critical Habitat

    No critical habitat rules have been published for the Utah Valvata snail.

    » Conservation Plans

    No conservation plans have been created for Utah Valvata snail

    » Petitions

    Most Recent Petition Findings (Showing 2 of 2 )
    Date Citation Page Title Finding
    07/16/2009 74 FR 34539 34548 12-Month Finding on a Petition To Remove the Utah (Desert) Valvata Snail (Valvata utahensis) From the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Proposed Rule
  • Notice 12 month petition finding, Warranted
  • Proposed Delisting, Erroneous data
    • 06/06/2007 72 FR 31264 31268 90-Day Finding on a Petition To Remove the Utah (Desert) Valvata Snail (Valvata utahensis) from the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife
  • Notice 90-day Petition Finding, Substantial

    • » Life History

    No Life History information has been entered into this system for this species.

    » Other Resources

    NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and Canada. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

    ITIS Reports -- ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of North America and the world.

    Last updated: November 21, 2009