Bythinella bouloti Girardi, Bichain & Wienin, 2002

Known distribution: some caves and karst springs on the left bank of the Tarn river, in the surroundings of Sainte-Énimie, Lozère. Named after Dr. François Boulot, who discovered the first specimens. The species seems to be strictly stygobiont, and is endemic to a very restricted area on the left bank of the Tarn: from Montbrun, in the neighbouring spring of Bissoudo, west to Castelbouc cave-river 1 and final siphon of Castelbouc 4. Above: specimen collected in sediments, in a large spring on the southern bank of the river Tarn, between Castelbouc and Montbrun. 2,3mm. Altitude ≈ 480m. Deep suture, punctiform umbilicus.

Synonym: galeræ. Named after the speleologist Jean-Louis Galera, this variant has a wide last whorl, and an extremely narrow umbilical slit. Above: specimen collected in alluvial sands trapped in the upper parts of the main gallery, in the Salle Ronde area, Castelbouc cave 1. Altitude ≈ 490m.

Castelbouc karst spring. The two cavities 1 & 4 belong to the system of Hures abyss. Bythinella bouloti / galeræ has never been found alive, but the hight quality of the shells suggests the species is still extant somewhere upstream. Same spot, 1,9mm.