Iadate

Iadate is a genus of freshwater snails belonging to the family Valvatidae. These snails are commonly known as cyclops snails due to their distinctive shell shape and the presence of a pulsating gill, which resembles a small eye. The Valvatidae family is characterized by a coiled, planorbid shell and a unique ctenidium (gill) that can be extended outside the shell.

Species within the Iadate genus are found in various freshwater habitats, including lakes, ponds, and slow-moving streams, primarily in North America. They are small snails, typically measuring only a few millimeters in shell diameter. Their diet consists mainly of algae and detritus, contributing to their role as detritivores in aquatic ecosystems.

The reproductive cycle of Iadate snails involves both sexes, and they lay small clutches of eggs, usually on submerged vegetation or other substrates. The larval stage, known as a veliger, is planktonic before settling and developing into a juvenile snail. Iadate snails can be indicators of water quality, with their presence and abundance often reflecting the health of their freshwater environment.