Melanoides tuberculata (Müller, 1774)

Description

Olivares and Gálvez (2008).

Distribution

Native to southern Asia (China, Taiwan and Philippines) (Letelier et al. 2007). In Chile this species has been found only in Pica (20°29 ʹ S, 69°19 ʹ W), Región de Arica y Parinacota (Olivares and Gálvez 2008).

Possible mechanism of introduction/Status

Aquarium trade/established.

Remarks

Herbivore, detritivore, invasive (parthenogenetic species). This is a common aquarium snail and it has been cited as an intermediate host of the human liver fluke (Dundee and Paine 1977). EA, NA, I.