Pomacea diffusa
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Pomacea diffusa | |
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| Pomacea diffusa shell | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Subclass: | Caenogastropoda |
| Order: | Architaenioglossa |
| Family: | Ampullariidae |
| Genus: | Pomacea |
| Species: | P. diffusa |
| Binomial name | |
| Pomacea diffusa Linnaeus, 1758 | |
Pomacea diffusa, common name the spike-topped apple snail or Mystery Snail, is a species of freshwater snail, an aquatic gastropod mollusk in the family Ampullariidae, the apple snails.
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
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]
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]
