Chinese mystery snail
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Chinese mystery snail | ||||||||||||||||||
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| Binomial name | ||||||||||||||||||
| Cipangopaludina chinensis (Gray, 1834) |
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Viviparus chinensis malleatus |
The Chinese mystery snail, Japanese mystery snail, black snail, or trapdoor snail, Cipangopaludina chinensis, is a small aquatic snail, primarily an algae eater. They are popular in aquariums because they do not eat fish eggs or plants, they do not overpopulate aquariums, and they close up if there is a water problem, giving people an indication that something is wrong a few weeks before the fish die.[2]
The name, "trapdoor" refers to a hinged fingernail-like plate or operculum that the snail can use to seal the aperture of the shell, thus providing some resistance to drought, chemicals, and other dangers.
Though native to South East Asia, this species has invaded North America. "It should be very easy to spot this invasive snail in any or all of the tributaries on Grand Island and on both sides of the Niagara River in the United States and Canada."[3] It "can serve as a vector for various parasites and diseases. Over its native range, the Chinese mystery snail may serve as an intermediate host for Echinocasmus elongatus, Echinocasmus redioduplicatus, Echinocasmus rugosus, Eupariphium ilocanum, Eupariphium recurvatum, Echinostoma macrorachis, and Echinostoma cinetorchis which can infect human beings" [4] It is regulated in Minnesota where it is illegal to release it into the wild.[5]
[edit] References
- ^ Aquatic Invasive Species: Chinese Mystery Snail. Indiana/US Department of Natural Resources, Division of Fish and Wildlife. Retrieved on 2007-07-17.
- ^ Pond Snails. thePondGuy. Retrieved on 2007-07-17.
- ^ Eckel, P. M.. [http://www.mobot.org/plantscience/ResBot/niag/Misc/Mollusc/Mollusc.htm The Oriental Mystery Mollusc (Cipangopaludina chinensis) at Buckhorn Island State Park, Erie County, New York]. Missouri Botanical Garden. Retrieved on 2007-07-17.
- ^ Pace, G. L. (1973), The freshwater snails of Taiwan (Formosa), Malacological Review Supplement 1, pp. Pages 1-117
- ^ Minnesota invasive species laws. Retrieved on 2007-07-17.
