Gytomidae

Gytomidae is a family of small, freshwater snails, aquatic gastropod mollusks in the superfamily Lymnaeoidea. The family is native to the Nearctic and Neotropical regions, with a few species found in the Palearctic region. Gytomidae is characterized by its small size, typically less than 10 mm in length, and its distinctive shell shape, which is often elongated and flattened. The family includes two genera, Gytomopsis and Gytomis, with a total of 12 species.

The family Gytomidae was first described by the French zoologist Jean-Baptiste Lamarck in 1801. The name Gytomidae is derived from the Greek words "gytos," meaning "a small, round object," and "midas," meaning "king," in reference to the small size and distinctive shell shape of the family's members.

Gytomidae is an important group of freshwater snails, as it provides valuable information about the evolution and diversity of aquatic gastropods. The family's small size and distinctive shell shape make it a useful model organism for studying the genetics and ecology of freshwater snails. Additionally, Gytomidae is of interest to conservationists, as some species are threatened or endangered due to habitat loss and pollution.