| Pomacea diffusa | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
| Pomacea diffusa shell | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Subclass: | Caenogastropoda |
| Order: | Architaenioglossa |
| Family: | Ampullariidae |
| Genus: | Pomacea |
| Species: | P. diffusa |
| Binomial name | |
| Pomacea diffusa Linnaeus, 1758 | |
Pomacea diffusa, common name the spike-topped apple snail or Mystery Snail, is a species of freshwater snail, an aquatic gastropod mollusk in the family Ampullariidae, the apple snails.
Pomacea diffusa was originally described as a subspecies of Pomacea bridgesii . [1] Pain (1960) [2] argued that Pomacea bridgesii bridgesii was a larger form with a restricted range, with the smaller Pomacea bridgesii diffusa being the common form throughout the Amazon Basin (Brazil, Peru, Bolivia). [1] Cowie and Thiengo (2003) [3] suggested that the latter might deserve full species status, and the two taxa have been confirmed as distinct species by genetic analyses. [1]
The type locality of Pomacea diffusa is in the city of Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia, although the species is widespread throughout the Amazon Basin. [1]
Non-indigenous distribution of Pomacea diffusa include:
Pomacea diffusa is known as the spike-topped apple snail, because of its relatively raised spire. [1] It lacks a channeled suture, and overlaps in size with the Pomacea paludosa . [1]
The egg masses have an irregular honeycombed appearance, like those of Pomacea haustrum , but are smaller and have a tan to salmon color, although they are white when freshly laid. [1]
It is a part of ornamental pet trade for freshwater aquaria. [8]
This article incorporates CC-BY-2.0 text from the reference. [1]
