Aquatic Invertebrates of Montana

Montana Gastropoda List Summary

These are not well known, but I am actively accumulating material for review. Prosobranchs are poorly represented in Montana with only 4 families and about 7 species currently known. Two of these families and 3 of these species represent recent introductions. In contrast, Montana has have all of the freshwater pulmonate families with about 36 species. One of these species was introduced.

Recent Discoveries

1995 was a year of intensive gastropod collecting in Montana. These collections have not yet been examined in detail. The biggest find of year was the discovery of the introduced New Zealand mudsail Potamopyrgus antipodarum (Gray) in the Madison River above Hebgen Lake.

Research Needs

The impacts of the introduced species should be our top research priority. Our aquatic pulmonates remain very difficult to identify and could use combined ecological and taxonomic studies.

Acknowledgments

• Robert Hershler has identified some Montana gastropod specimens.
• Fred Thompson has identified some Montana gastropod specimens.