<
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jul/24/arizona-border-wall-endangered-species>
"Quitobaquito Springs in south-west Arizona has been called a biological
wonderland with few equals.
The springs are an oasis in the vast Sonoran desert along the US-Mexico border,
held sacred by the O’odham people, who call it A’al Vaipia. Here, water flows
out of an aquifer at the bottom of a hill, runs along a short concrete channel
and collects in a pond.
The pond is home to Sonoyta pupfish, which are small and silvery, with upturned
jaws. In the channel are found small mollusks the size of chia seeds known as
springsnails. This is the only place on Earth where these two species live in
the wild. It’s also the only US habitat for the Sonoyta mud turtle, a reptile
with a domed shell and the ability to survive amid scarce desert water sources.
The spring, located within Organ Pipe Cactus national monument, provides one of
the only reliable bodies of water for about 100 miles in any direction, making
it vital for wildlife in the area and for humans who have lived here for
millennia.
But the spring is in trouble."
Via Susan ****
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
