Pomacea maculata

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Pomacea maculata
Pomacea insularum shell 3.jpg
Apertural view of a shell of Pomacea maculata
Pomacea maculata.jpg
Live Pomacea maculata floating and eating a carrot
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Mollusca
Class:
Gastropoda
(unranked):
clade Caenogastropoda
informal group Architaenioglossa
Superfamily:
Ampullarioidea
Family:
Ampullariidae
Genus:
Pomacea
Subgenus:
Pomacea
Species:
P. maculata
Binomial name
Pomacea maculata
Perry, 1810
Synonyms [1]

{{Plain list

  • Island apple snail
  • Ampullaria gigas Spix, 1827 [2]
  • Ampullaria insularum d'Orbigny, 1835
  • Pomacea insularum (d'Orbigny, 1835)

}}

Pomacea maculata is a species of large freshwater snail with an operculum, an aquatic gastropod mollusk in the family Ampullariidae, the apple snails.

Contents

The common name of its synonymous name Pomacea insularum is the island applesnail.

Together with Pomacea canaliculata it is the most invasive species of the family Ampullariidae. [1] It is considered as about the 58th worst alien species in Europe. [3]

Distribution

The indigenous distribution of Pomacea maculata is South America. [4] Pomacea maculata is reported from Argentina, Brazil, and Bolivia and it probably occurs in Uruguay and Paraguay. [5]

The type locality is the Río Paraná, which joins the Río Uruguay just above Buenos Aires, forming the Río de la Plata. The area between the Paraná and the Uruguay is the Argentine province of Entre Ríos, the southern part of which is marshy, with channels connecting the Paraná and the Uruguay. [5]

Non-indigenous distribution

North America

Non-native distribution of Pomacea maculata in the Southeastern United States Distribution of Pomacea maculata in the United States.png
Non-native distribution of Pomacea maculata in the Southeastern United States
P. maculata laying eggs near the Kallang River in Singapore, where it is an invasive species. Golden apple snail laying eggs, Singapore.jpg
P. maculata laying eggs near the Kallang River in Singapore, where it is an invasive species.

The initial introductions in the United States were probably from aquarium release, aka "aquarium dumping", in Texas and Florida most likely in the early 1990s, but possibly as late as 2002. [6] Since then, it has rapidly spread from its initial introduced populations in Texas and Florida, and Pomacea maculata has been documented throughout eight southeastern states as of 2013: [6]

Established populations exist in Florida, Georgia, and Texas. [4] [5]

In Florida, Georgia, and Texas, initially the occurrences of Pomacea maculata were incorrectly identified as Pomacea canaliculata . Subsequent genetic testing confirmed that specimens collected in Florida, Georgia, and Texas were indeed Pomacea maculata. [5]

Byers et al. (2013) [6] predicted potential range of this species in the Southeastern United States. [6] They indicated that the minimum temperature in the coldest months and maximum amount of precipitation in the warmest months are the best predictors. [6]

Asia

In Taiwan, where golden apple snails were introduced in Asia, Pomacea maculata may be misidentified as Pomacea canaliculata . Pomacea maculata is also widespread in Singapore. [13]

Description

Pomacea maculata shell including an operculum. Pomacea maculata shell.png
Pomacea maculata shell including an operculum.
Two views of a shells of Pomacea maculata. Scale bar is 5 cm. Pomacea insularum shell.jpg
Two views of a shells of Pomacea maculata. Scale bar is 5 cm.

This snail species was described by Georges Perry in March 1810. Perry also created the genus Pomacea, and Pomacea maculata was described as the type of species. [14]

The snail can grow up to 15 centimeters (5.9 inches) in size. The eyes are just below the antennae. The colour of the shell varies from a pale olive green to a darker green, with dark bands across the shell. The shell is quite thin compared to other family members of the apple snail family. The inside has dark spots (maculata means spotted or stained).

The shells of these applesnails are globular in shape. Normal coloration typically includes bands of brown, black, and yellowish-tan. Color patterns are however extremely variable, and both albino and gold color variations exist. [15] [4]

The size of the shell is up to 150 mm (5.9 inches) in length. [4]

Pomacea maculata individuals can be difficult to differentiate morphologically from Pomacea canaliculata (but egg masses are strikingly different to a trained observer). [6]

The color of the visible soft parts is grey-brown with dark spots. [16]

Ecology

Freshwater habitat with Pomacea maculata Pomacea insularum 2.jpg
Freshwater habitat with Pomacea maculata
Eggs of Pomacea maculata at the bottom of the image. Eggs of Pomacea paludosa at the top. Scale bar 5 cm Pomacea paludosa and Pomacea insularum eggs.jpg
Eggs of Pomacea maculata at the bottom of the image. Eggs of Pomacea paludosa at the top. Scale bar 5 cm

Habitat

Pomacea maculata commonly colonizes small water bodies, such as roadside ditches and littoral edges of larger water bodies.

Experimentally determined incipient physiological tolerance limits under laboratory conditions for adult and juvenile Pomacea maculata collected in Texas are:

Life cycle

This snail lays pink eggs in clutches above the water level. Pomacea maculata egg clutches contain 2000 eggs. [6]

Feeding habits

Pomacea maculata voraciously consumes aquatic vegetation. [6] The snail’s extensive consumption of aquatic vegetation and ability to accumulate and transmit algal toxins through the food web heighten concerns about its spread. [6]

The snail eats dead and decaying plant matter and algae.[ citation needed ]

Impact

The limited ecological data on Pomacea maculata in the USA show that the species has considerable impacts, especially on native aquatic vegetation and snail species. [6] In Florida, in particular, Pomacea maculata is much larger and more fecund than the native Pomacea paludosa (that produces 20–30 eggs). [6]

Recent laboratory studies have demonstrated that Pomacea maculata can transfer the neurotoxin linked to Avian Vacuolar Myelinopathy (AVM) to its avian predators. [6] The invasion of Pomacea maculata has possibly affected the endangered snail kite, a specialist predator on the native Pomacea paludosa, which seemingly experienced decreased foraging success and juvenile survival following invasion of Pomacea maculata. [6]

There is a further, but largely unexplored risk that Pomacea maculata harbors rat lungworm parasite Angiostrongylus cantonensis . [6]

Human use

Pomacea maculata is edible and part of the ornamental pet trade for freshwater aquaria. [17]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ampullariidae</span> Family of gastropods

Ampullariidae, whose members are commonly known as apple snails, is a family of large freshwater snails that includes the mystery snail species. They are aquatic gastropod mollusks with a gill and an operculum. These snails simultaneously have a gill and a lung as functional respiratory structures, which are separated by a division of the mantle cavity. This adaptation allows these animals to be amphibious. Species in this family are considered gonochoristic, meaning that each individual organism is either male or female.

<i>Marisa cornuarietis</i> Species of gastropod

Marisa cornuarietis, common name the Colombian ramshorn apple snail, is a species of large freshwater snail with an operculum, an aquatic gastropod mollusc in the family Ampullariidae, the apple snail family.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chinese mystery snail</span> Species of gastropod

The Chinese mystery snail, black snail, or trapdoor snail, is a large freshwater snail with gills and an operculum, an aquatic gastropod mollusk in the family Viviparidae. The Japanese variety of this species is black and usually a dark green, moss-like alga covers the shell.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Langan Park</span> Public park in Mobile, Alabama

Langan Park, also known as Municipal Park, is a 720-acre (291 ha) municipal park in the Spring Hill neighborhood of Mobile, Alabama, US. The park opened in 1957 and was named for Joseph N. Langan, a former Mobile mayor, state senator and city commissioner. It has lakes, natural spaces, tennis courts, children’s playgrounds and picnic areas. It is also the site of the Azalea City Golf Course, the Mobile Botanical Gardens, the Mobile Museum of Art and Playhouse in the Park.

<i>Pomacea bridgesii</i> Species of gastropod

Pomacea bridgesii, common name the spike-topped apple snail or mystery snail, is a South American species of freshwater snail with gills and an operculum, an aquatic gastropod mollusk in the family Ampullariidae. These snails were most likely introduced to the United States through the aquarium trade.

<i>Pila</i> (gastropod) Genus of gastropods

Pila is a genus of large freshwater snails with an operculum, African and Asian apple snails, aquatic gastropod mollusks in the family Ampullariidae, the apple snails.

<i>Pila ampullacea</i> Species of gastropod

Pila ampullacea, is a species of freshwater snail with an operculum, an aquatic gastropod mollusk in the family Ampullariidae, the apple snails.

<i>Pomacea</i> Genus of gastropods

Pomacea is a genus of freshwater snails with gills and an operculum, aquatic gastropod mollusks in the family Ampullariidae, the apple snails. The genus is native to the Americas; most species in this genus are restricted to South America.

<i>Pomacea canaliculata</i> Species of gastropod

Pomacea canaliculata, commonly known as the golden apple snail or the channeled apple snail, is a species of large freshwater snail with gills and an operculum, an aquatic gastropod mollusc in the family Ampullariidae, the apple snails. South American in origin, this species is considered to be in the top 100 of the "World's Worst Invasive Alien Species". It is also ranked as the 40th worst alien species in Europe and the worst alien species of gastropod in Europe.

<i>Pomacea haustrum</i> Species of gastropod

Pomacea haustrum, common name the titan applesnail, is a species of large freshwater snail with an operculum, an aquatic gastropod mollusk in the family Ampullariidae, the applesnails.

<i>Pomacea diffusa</i> Species of gastropod

Pomacea diffusa, common name the spike-topped apple snail, is a species of freshwater snail, an aquatic gastropod mollusk in the family Ampullariidae, the apple snails.

<i>Pomacea paludosa</i> Species of gastropod

Pomacea paludosa, common name the Florida applesnail, is a species of freshwater snail with an operculum, an aquatic gastropod mollusk in the family Ampullariidae, the apple snails.

<i>Elimia livescens</i> Species of gastropod

Elimia livescens, common name the liver elimia, is a species of freshwater snail with an operculum, an aquatic gastropod mollusk in the family Pleuroceridae.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Galactogen</span> Chemical compound

Galactogen is a polysaccharide of galactose that functions as energy storage in pulmonate snails and some Caenogastropoda. This polysaccharide is exclusive of the reproduction and is only found in the albumen gland from the female snail reproductive system and in the perivitelline fluid of eggs.

The perivitellinefluid is an extracellular fluid found in the eggs of most gastropods and constitutes the main source of nutrition and defense for their embryos. It replaces the egg yolk of other animals, which in snail eggs is reduced to non-nutritive proteinaceous granules with putative enzymatic function.

Perivitellins are egg proteins found in the perivitelline fluid of many gastropods. They are multifunctional complexes providing the developing embryo with nutrition, protection from the environment, and defense against predators.

Ovorubin is the most abundant perivitellin of the perivitelline fluid from Pomacea canaliculata snail eggs. This glyco-lipo-caroteno protein complex is a approx. 300 kDa multimer of a combination of multiple copies of six different ~30 kDa subunits.

Pomacea maculata perivitellin-1 (PmPV1) is the most abundant perivitellin found in the perivitelline fluid from Pomacea maculata snail eggs. This glyco-lipo-caroteno protein is an approx. 294 kDa multimer of a combination of multiple copies of six different ~30 kDa subunits. PmPV1 account >60% of the total proteins found in the Pomacea maculata eggs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pomacea columellaris</span> Species of snail

Pomacea columellaris is a South American species of freshwater snail in the apple snail family, Ampullariidae.

References

This article incorporates a public domain work of the United States Government from the reference [4] and CC-BY-2.0 text from the reference [5] CC-BY-2.5 text from the reference [6]

  1. 1 2 Hayes, K. A.; Cowie, R. H.; Thiengo, S. C.; Strong, E. E. (2012). "Comparing apples with apples: clarifying the identities of two highly invasive Neotropical Ampullariidae (Caenogastropoda)". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society . 166 (4): 723–753. doi: 10.1111/j.1096-3642.2012.00867.x .
  2. ↑ Riess, Karlem (March 1946). "Snail Studies in Elementary Biology". The American Biology Teacher. 8 (6): 131–133. doi:10.2307/4437709. JSTOR   4437709.
  3. ↑ Nentwig, Wolfgang; Bacher, Sven; Kumschick, Sabrina; Pyšek, Petr; Vilà, Montserrat (2017-12-18). "More than '100 worst' alien species in Europe". Biological Invasions. 20 (6): 1611–1621. doi: 10.1007/s10530-017-1651-6 . hdl: 10261/158710 . ISSN   1387-3547.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Benson A. J. (2008). "Pomacea insularum". USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database, Gainesville, FL. <> Revision Date: 8/14/2007. Archived May 10, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Rawlings, T. A.; Hayes, K. A.; Cowie, R. H.; Collins, T. M. (2007). "The identity, distribution, and impacts on non-native apple snails in the continental United States". BMC Evolutionary Biology . 7: 97. doi: 10.1186/1471-2148-7-97 . PMC   1919357 . PMID   17594487.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 Byers, J. E.; McDowell, W. G.; Dodd, S. R.; Haynie, R. S.; Pintor, L. M.; Wilde, S. B. (2013). "Climate and pH Predict the Potential Range of the Invasive Apple Snail (Pomacea insularum) in the Southeastern United States". PLoS ONE . 8 (2): e56812. Bibcode:2013PLoSO...856812B. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0056812 . PMC   3579942 . PMID   23451090.
  7. ↑ Howells, R. G. 2001. History and status of applesnail (Pomacea spp.) introductions in Texas. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Management Data Series No. 183.
  8. ↑ D. Shelton, personal communication, Alabama Malacological Research Center. In: Benson, A. J. 2008. Pomacea insularum. USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database, Gainesville, FL. <> Revision Date: 8/14/2007. Archived May 10, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  9. ↑ B. Albanese, pers. comm. In: Benson, A. J. 2008. Pomacea insularum. USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database, Gainesville, FL. <> Revision Date: 8/14/2007. Archived May 10, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  10. ↑ J. van Dyke, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, personal communication, In: Benson, A. J. 2008. Pomacea insularum. USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database, Gainesville, FL. <> Revision Date: 8/14/2007. Archived May 10, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  11. ↑ M. Minno, St. Johns Water Management District., personal communication. In: Benson, A. J. 2008. Pomacea insularum. USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database, Gainesville, FL. <> Revision Date: 8/14/2007. Archived May 10, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  12. ↑ D. Denson and L. Connor, personal communication. In: Benson, A. J. 2008. Pomacea insularum. USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database, Gainesville, FL. <> Revision Date: 8/14/2007. Archived May 10, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  13. ↑ Ng, Ting HUI; Lim, Kelvin K. P. (2010). "Introduced Aquatic Herpetofauna of Singapore's Reservoirs". Cosmos. 06: 117–127. doi:10.1142/S0219607710000516 – via ResearchGate.
  14. ↑ "Robyn's Snail Species Page". fishpondinfo.com. Retrieved 2009-01-28.
  15. ↑ R. Howells, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, personal communication. in: Benson, A. J. 2008. Pomacea insularum. USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database, Gainesville, FL. <> Revision Date: 8/14/2007. Archived May 10, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  16. ↑ Stijn Ghesquiere. Pomacea (pomacea) insularum, The Apple Snail (Ampullariidae) Website http://www.applesnail.net, accessed 26 October 2008.
  17. ↑ Ng, T. H., Tan, S. K., Wong, W. H., Meier, R., Chan, S. Y., Tan, H. H., & Yeo, D. C. (2016). "Molluscs for sale: assessment of freshwater gastropods and bivalves in the ornamental pet trade". PLoS ONE11(8): e0161130. doi : 10.1371/journal.pone.0161130
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