Pomacea diffusa
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.
Pomacea diffusa | |
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Pomacea diffusa shell | |
Scientific classification | |
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Subfamily: | Ampullariinae |
Tribe: | Ampullariini |
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Species: | P. diffusa |
Binomial name | |
Pomacea diffusa Blume, 1957 | |
![](../I/Apple_snail.jpg.webp)
Taxonomy
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]
Distribution
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:
- Thompson[4] recorded this species (as Pomacea bridgesii) in Florida in Monroe, Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, and Pinellas Counties.[1] The FLMNH electronic database also lists samples from Alachua County, but records cited from the FLMNH database for Brevard County are in fact from Broward County.[1] Rawlings et al. (2007)[1] also collected this species in Hillsborough and Collier Counties.
- Pomacea diffusa was first recorded in Florida (as Pomacea bridgesii) by William J. Clench.[1][5] The FLMNH has specimens collected in Palm Beach County in 1967 (FLMNH 20295) and Miami-Dade and Broward Counties in the early 1970s (FLMNH 22175, 222247).[1] Howells et al. (2006)[6] reported its establishment in Mobile, Alabama in 2003.[1]
- Cuba[7]
Description
![](../I/Pomacea_diffusa_shell.jpg.webp)
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]
![](../I/Pomacea_diffusa_eggs.jpg.webp)
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]
Human use
It is a part of ornamental pet trade for freshwater aquaria.[8]
See also
References
This article incorporates CC-BY-2.0 text from the reference.[1]
- Rawlings, Timothy A.; Hayes, Kenneth A.; Cowie, Robert H.; Collins, Timothy M. (2007). "The identity, distribution, and impacts of non-native apple snails in the continental United States". BMC Evolutionary Biology. 7: 97. doi:10.1186/1471-2148-7-97. ISSN 1471-2148. PMC 1919357. PMID 17594487.
- Pain, T. (1960). "Pomacea (Ampullariidae) of the Amazon River system". Journal of Conchology. 24: 421–443.
- Cowie, R. H.; Thiengo, S. C. (2003). "The apple snails of the Americas (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Ampullariidae: Asolene, Felipponea, Marisa, Pomacea, Pomella): a nomenclatural and type catalog". Malacologia. 45: 41–100.
- Thompson, F. G. (1984). Freshwater snails of Florida: A manual for identification. Gainesville: University of Florida Press.
- Clench, W. J. (1966). "Pomacea bridgesi (Reeve) in Florida". Nautilus. 79: 105.
- Howells R. G., Burlakova L. F., Karatayev A. Y., Marfurt R. K. & Burks R. L. (2006). "Native and introduced Ampullariidae in North America: History, status, and ecology. In Global Advances in the Ecology and Management of Golden Apple Snails". In: Joshi R. C., Sebastian L. S., Muñoz N. E. (2006). Philippine Rice Research Institute. 2006: 73-112.
- Perera, Antonio Alejandro Vázquez; Valderrama, Susana Perera (2010). "Endemic Freshwater Molluscs of Cuba and Their Conservation Status". Tropical Conservation Science. 3 (2): 190–199. doi:10.1177/194008291000300206.
- 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 ONE 11(8): e0161130. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0161130
External links
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- Applesnails of Florida on the UF / IFAS Featured Creatures Web site
- [The apple snail website species page]