This tiny snail previously inhabited a small group of thermal springs in the State of New Mexico, USA.

Very little is known about this snail in general, because of its minute size, its very restricted range, and the fact that the places where it currently lives are on private property which allows no access.

The species was formally described and named Amnicola neomexicana by American malacologist (mollusk expert) Henry Augustus Pilsbry in 1916.

[3][5] Pilsbry's original type description, the text where the species is officially named and described, reads as follows: The shell is very small, minutely perforate, globose, corneous, rather solid.

This species, known by many specimens, is smaller than Amnicola micrococcus, with a narrow aperture, straight inner lip and less impressed suture.

This gives an abrupt outline of the suture, in front view.In 1982, American zoologist John B. Burch reclassified the Socorro springsnail as Fontelicella neomexicana.

[9] The animal respires by using a type of gill known as a ctenidium (a comb-like respiratory apparatus) which in this species has 20 tall and narrow ctenidial filaments.

[5] The principal spring source where the Socorro springsnail is currently found has been impounded (artificially enclosed, blocked off or dammed), and this has reduced the flowing-water habitat to a very small pool.

[5] The species is abundant on rootlets in this pool, but is not found in the ditches and ponds radiating from the spring into irrigation structures.

In 1981, the colony of Socorro springsnails was found to occupy not only the source, but also the outflow tributary about 2.5 m (8 ft) long to an irrigation ditch.

[11] The population of the Socorro springsnail is thought to be limited to a single pool which is less than 1 m2 in area, and an outflow ditch about 2.5 m (8 ft) in length.

Several of the springs that formerly contained the Socorro springsnail have been impounded, and this has eliminated the precise habitat that is critical for the species’ survival.

While it is possible that additional populations might be established in other thermal springs, this possibility is contingent upon finding springs within the species’ presumed historic range that have the physical and biologic attributes, including terrestrial habitat components, that the springsnail requires to survive, and which do not support their own endemic fauna.

[11] Lack of cooperation by the private land owner and impacts caused by their actions were not specifically identified as a threat.

Fish and Wildlife Service recommendations for further actions suggested that efforts should continue in an attempt to gain access to the spring.

If and when access is granted, it was recommended that life history studies should be carried out, monitor population numbers should be monitored, the attributes of suitable habitat should be determined (qualities like the exact nature of the preferred substrate, the water temperature limits, pH, hardness, alkalinity etc.)

If on the other hand, access continues to be denied, the recommendation was to attempt to set up a one-time visit to the spring in order to collect individuals for a captive refugium population.

Fish and Wildlife Service not to implement the part of the Endangered Species Act which allows the authorities to acquire land as necessary if it is "critical habitat" for the conservation of a listed species, because it was felt in this situation that making the land public would actually expose the remaining population to an even greater risk of extinction from threats such as vandalism and collection by unauthorized parties.