Tulotoma

Tulotoma magnifica, common name the Alabama live-bearing snail or tulotoma, is an endangered species of large freshwater snail, an aquatic gastropod mollusk in the family Viviparidae.

Tulotoma
A live Tulotoma magnifica on a mud substrate
Conservation status
Vulnerable  (IUCN 2.3)[1]
Imperiled  (NatureServe)[2]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Gastropoda
Subclass:	Caenogastropoda
Order:	Architaenioglossa
Family:	Viviparidae
Genus:	Tulotoma Haldeman, 1840[3]
Species:	T. magnifica
Binomial name
Tulotoma magnifica (Conrad, 1834)[4]
Synonyms
Paludina magnifica Conrad, 1834

Taxonomy

Tulotoma is a monotypic genus, in other words, this is the only species in the genus.

Distribution

This species is endemic to the Coosa River-Alabama River system in Alabama, United States.

Description

The shell of this species is large, solid, thick and imperforate. The shape of the shell is obtusely conic. The spire is elevated. The whorls are flattened, nodulous and carinated. The peristome is thin and continuous.^[5] The shell can grow fairly large, to more than 25 mm in height. The operculum is concentric, subtriangular, with the inner margin reflected and forming an elevated marginal fold.^[5]

Apertural view of a small empty shell

Abapertural view of another individual

It is a species with a moderate foot, not produced beyond the snout.^{[clarification needed]} The snout is small. The radula is multicuspid.^[5]

A group of Tulotoma magnifica on mud

A large number of Tulotoma magnifica on mud