Mexipyrgus is a monotypic genus of very small freshwater snails, aquatic gastropod mollusks in the family Cochliopidae.Bouchet, P. (2014). Mexipyrgus D. W. Taylor, 1966. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=723425 on 2014-11-16
Distribution This genus is endemic to Cuatro Ciénegas valley, in Chihuahuan Desert, Mexico.Chaves-Campos J., Johnson S. G. & Hulsey C. D. (2011). "Spatial Geographic Mosaic in an Aquatic Predator-Prey Network". PLoS ONE 6(7): e22472. .
Ecology Mexipyrgus is generally found only in soft sediment.Chaves-Campos J., Coghill L. M., García de León F. J. & Johnson S. G. (2012). "The Effect of Aquatic Plant Abundance on Shell Crushing Resistance in a Freshwater Snail". PLoS ONE 7(9): e44374. .
Water lily Nymphaea ampla is the most common aquatic macrophyte in abundance in its habitats. According to the isotope analysis by Chaves-Campos et al. (2012) it is probable that Mexipyrgus churinceanus feed on water lily Nymphaea ampla organic matter metabolized by sediment bacteria.
Predators include the specialized snail-eating (molluscivorous) cichlid fish Herichthys minckleyi.Chaves-Campos J., Johnson S. G. & Hulsey C. D. (2011). "Spatial Geographic Mosaic in an Aquatic Predator-Prey Network". PLoS ONE 6(7): e22472. .
References
Nomenclator Zoologicus info
Further reading
Johnson S. G. (2005). "Age, phylogeography and population structure of the microendemic banded spring snail, Mexipyrgus churinceanus". Molecular Ecology 14(8): 2299-2311. . Johnson S. G., Hulsey C. D. & León F. J. G. de (2007). "Spatial mosaic evolution of snail defensive traits". BMC Evolutionary Biology 7: 50. .