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 shell of Marisa cornuarietis
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| Marisa cornuarietis (Linnaeus, 1758) |
Marisa cornuarietis, common name the giant ramshorn snail, is a species of freshwater snail with an operculum, an aquatic gastropod mollusk in the family Ampullariidae, the apple snail family.
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Shell description
Although Marisa snails superficially resemble ram's horn snails because of the planispiral coiling of their shells, they are not at all closely related to the snails in the family Planorbidae.
This is an easily recognizable species: the shell is flat-coiled (planispiral) and is brick red in color. The shell color may sometimes be darker or more vivid.
The shell diameter is usually 35-50 mm (2 in) or even larger.
Distribution
Indigenous distribution
The giant ramshorn snail is native to northern South America and several of the southern islands of the Caribbean.
Nonndigenous distribution
This species has been introduced and has established itself in Florida, in the southeastern United States. Established populations of this snail now exist in Broward, Dade, Monroe, and Palm Beach counties. The initial introductions were probably from aquarium release, aka "aquarium dumping".
Ecology
This species has gills as well as a lung, to ensure an efficient underwater respiration.
Habitat
This snail prefers still or slow-moving fresh water, depending on the availability of aquatic vegetation as a food source.
Feeding habits
This species eats aquatic plants, algae, and dead fish and snails.
Easily adaptable to captivity, this snail may invade and damage aquarium vegetation. It is practically omnivorous, and feeds on animal and vegetal detritus. This snail acts as a useful aquarium scavenger when it is not excessively numerous.
Studies revealed that this species retards the growth of water hyacinths by feeding on the roots of the plants. It has been suggested that the snail be used as weed-control agent in the canals of south Florida.
The snail has been released in some areas to control Hydrilla.
Life cycle
A hermaphrodite, it lays eggs in characteristic disk-shape clutches, adhering to various substrates. Unlike some other apple snails, this snail lays its eggs below the waterline.
In the aquarium
This is a popular species in the aquarium trade.
Marisa cornuarietis is one of about 120 species belonging to the Ampullariidae family, also known as the apple snail family (and sometimes called Pilidae). These apple snails are commonly sold in pet stores under the misleading names "giant ramshorn snail" and "Columbian ramshorn snail".
Marisa cornuarietis is usually purchased intentionally from pet stores, whereas true ramshorn snails (family Planorbidae) are very often considered to be aquarium pests, acquired accidentally, clinging to leaves of aquatic plants.
These apple snails grow to be much larger than ramshorn snails, and they consume large amounts of plant matter. This means they are not suitable for an aquarium where plant growth is being encouraged.
Use as biological control
Marisa cornuarietis is used as a biological control to reduce the number of Biomphalaria snails, which are intermediate hosts to the disease Schistosomiasis. Schistosoma larvae (cercariae), namely of Schistosoma haematobium, enter and develop inside the Biomphlaria, to form miracidium, which can penetrate through skin to enter the human body.
Marisa cornuarietis snails compete with the Biomphalaria snail vectors for food. They also eat the eggs of Biomphalaria, thereby effectively reducing the chances of Schistosomia being spread.
References
This article incorporates public domain text from:
- United States Geological Survey. 2008. Marisa cornuarietis. USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database, Gainesville, FL. <http://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/FactSheet.asp?speciesID=981> Revision Date: 2/6/2008
External links
- Pesticides Database - Chemical Toxicity Studies
- Marisa cornuarietis at the Apple Snail Website
- Marisa cornuarietis (Linnaeus, 1758) at Gulf of Mexico Program
Wikipedia content modification information:
- This page was last modified on 10 November 2008, at 17:21.
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