Heliseadmetega

Heliseadmetega is a genus of small, freshwater snails with a gill and an operculum, an external shell. The genus is endemic to New Zealand and is characterized by its small size, typically measuring less than 2 millimeters in length. The shell is thin, translucent, and has a spiral shape with a smooth surface. The genus is notable for its unique reproductive strategy, as the female snails lay their eggs in a gelatinous mass, which is then carried by the male snail until the eggs hatch.

The genus was first described by the German zoologist Carl Eduard Adolph Gerstäcker in 1858. It is named after the Greek words "helios," meaning sun, and "seadmetega," meaning to be born. The genus is currently classified in the family Hydrobiidae, which includes other freshwater snails with a gill and an operculum. The genus is further divided into two species, Heliseadmetega heliseadmetega and Heliseadmetega novaezelandiae.

Heliseadmetega snails are found in a variety of freshwater habitats, including streams, rivers, and ponds. They are herbivorous, feeding on algae and other plant material. The snails are also known to be sensitive to environmental changes, and their populations can decline rapidly in response to pollution or other disturbances. As a result, the genus is considered to be at risk of extinction in some areas. Conservation efforts are underway to protect the remaining populations of Heliseadmetega snails and their habitats.