Tucson-area snail same as other snail species
TUCSON, Ariz. -- A terrestrial snail found in Arizona no longer is a candidate for federal endangered species protection.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says that's because the Rosemont talussnail is the same species as the Santa Rita talussnail.
The Center for Biological Diversity had filed a petition in 2010 seeking protection for the Rosemont talussnail that it said lives only in the Santa Rita Mountains south of Tucson.
Fish and Wildlife spokesman Jeff Humphrey said Wednesday that identifying the snails requires an examination of soft body parts.
Scientists found no difference in the shapes or sizes of the male or female reproductive organs between the Santa Rita and the Rosemont talussnail.
Humphrey says the Santa Rita snail is widespread and commonly found in southern Arizona and Sonora, Mexico.