This species was described as Lymnaea neotropica in 2007.[1] However, it belongs to the Galba genus,[1][3] therefore this species is named Galba neotropica. cf.[2][3][4]
Galba neotropica is the vector typically responsible for fascioliasis (liver fluke) livestock infection.[5]
Distribution
Galba neotropica was originally described from Lima, Peru and surroundings;[1] it appears to be a species restricted to South America, but with a very broad geographical distribution from Argentina in the Southern Cone north to Venezuela.[5]
The maximum length of the shell of this species is 10.36 mm.[5]Whorls are convex.[5] The columella is slightly curved and unfolded.[5]
An examination of tentacles, eyes and colour in living specimens has never been performed.[5]
In the radula, the first bilateral teeth are bicuspid but occasionally they are tricuspid or rarely quadricuspid.[5] The praeputium/penis sheath length ratio is 1.10–3.90 mm (mean 2.12–2.70 mm).[5]
Two species that have a similar morphology are Galba truncatula and Galba schirazensis.[5] Although several phenotypic characteristics are somewhat helpful for a preliminary specimen classification, a definitive classification of a specimen can only be obtained by the sequencing of at least one of the molecular markers used: ITS-2, ITS-1, 16S and cox1.[5]
Ecology
Galba neotropica is sometimes amphibious.[5] The habitat of Galba neotropica rarely[5] also includes artificial water bodies.[7]
An artificial irrigation channel, Mendoza Province, Argentina
These snails hatch from eggs. The shape of the egg cluster is rounded to an oval when containing few eggs; when the clutch includes more eggs, it lengthens with a slight curving trend.[5] There are about 4–16 eggs in each cluster.[5]
Parasites of Galba neotropica include:
Fasciola hepatica.[6] The transmission capacity of Fasciola hepatica to humans is low, however, the transmission capacity of Fasciola hepatica to animals is high.[5]
References
This article incorporates CC-BY-2.0 text from the reference[5]
1 2 3 4 5 Bargues, M.; Artigas, P.; Mera y Sierra, R. L.; Pointier, J. P.; Mas-Coma, S. (2007). "Characterisation of Lymnaea cubensis, L. Viatrix and L. Neotropica n. Sp., the main vectors of Fasciola hepatica in Latin America, by analysis of their ribosomal and mitochondrial DNA". Annals of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology. 101 (7): 621–41. doi:10.1179/136485907X229077. PMID17877881. S2CID22522986..
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