Pomacea canaliculata

Pomacea canaliculata, commonly known as the golden apple snail or the channeled apple snail, is a species of large freshwater snail with gills and an operculum, an aquatic gastropod mollusc in the family Ampullariidae, the apple snails. South American in origin, this species is considered to be in the top 100 of the "World's Worst Invasive Alien Species".^[2] It is also ranked as the 40th worst alien species in Europe and the worst alien species of gastropod in Europe.^[3]

Pomacea canaliculata
Five views of a shell of Pomacea canaliculata, Shell diameter 8 cm (3+1⁄4 in)
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)^[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Gastropoda
(unranked):	clade Caenogastropoda informal group Architaenioglossa
Superfamily:	Ampullarioidea
Family:	Ampullariidae
Genus:	Pomacea
Subgenus:	Pomacea
Species:	Pomacea canaliculata (Lamarck, 1819)

Distribution

The native distribution of P. canaliculata is basically tropical and subtropical,^[4] including Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Brazil.^[5] The southernmost record for the species is Paso de las Piedras reservoir, south of the Buenos Aires province, Argentina.^[6]

 

Drawing of the animal and the shell of Pomacea canaliculata

Non-indigenous distribution

This species also occurs in the United States, where the initial introductions were probably from aquarium release, aka "aquarium dumping". The non-indigenous distribution includes: Lake Wawasee in Kosciusko County, Indiana;^[7] Langan Park and Three Mile Creek in Mobile, Alabama;^[8][9] a pond bordering the Mobile-Tensaw River Delta in Baldwin County, Alabama;^[9] Little Wekiva River, Orlando, Florida; a lake near Jacksonville, Florida;^[10] Miramar Reservoir in San Diego County, California; and a pond near Yuma, Arizona. Established populations exist in California and Hawaii.^[11]

The species has been found in China since 1981.^[12] Its initial point of distribution in China was Zhongshan city.^[13]

The species has been found in Chile since 2009 with a restricted distribution.^[14]

The species has also been found in the Philippines, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Papua New Guinea, parts of Indonesia and Malaysia, Singapore, and Guam. In 1980, the apple snail was introduced to south-east Asia as a food item and aquarium pet. First, it was introduced to Taiwan, then Japan, then Thailand and the Philippines. Instead of catching on, snails were released or escaped and have become a major agricultural pest.^[15]

Samples taken 3 December 2020 in Mwea Constituency, Kirinyaga County, Kenya were the first in that country, and indeed the first in continental Africa.^[16]

Shell description

The shells of these applesnails are globular in shape. Normal coloration typically includes bands of brown, black, and yellowish-tan; color patterns are extremely variable. Albino and gold color variations exist.^[17][11]

The size of the shell is up to 150 millimetres (6 in) in length.^[11]

Ecology

Habitat

 

Pomacea canaliculata egg masses are typically laid on emergent vegetation over freshwater bodies of water.

This species lives in freshwater lake, river, pond and swamp habitats and tolerates a wide range of temperatures.^[18] In natural settings, they rely on grasses and other emergent vegetation growing along the perimeter of bodies of water to lay their eggs. Where invasive, they can utilize crops such as rice and taro as a substrate for reproduction.^[19]

Feeding habits

Pomacea canaliculata is extremely polyphagous, feeding on vegetal (primarily macrophytophagous, feeding on floating or submersed higher plants), detrital, and animal matter. Diet may vary with age, with younger smaller individuals feeding on algae and detritus, and older, bigger (15 millimetres (19⁄32 in) and above) individuals later shifting to higher plants.^[20]

This species negatively impacts rice and taro agriculture worldwide where it has been introduced.^[11]

Life cycle

 

The egg masses of Pomacea canaliculata are a bright pink or orange in color

 

Eggs of Pomacea canaliculata, scale bar in cm (25⁄64 in).

In temperate climates, the egg-laying period of this species extends from early spring to early fall.^[21] while in tropical areas reproduction is continuous. The duration of the reproductive period of P. canaliculata decreases with latitude, to a minimum of six months in the southern limit of its natural distribution.^[6] Adult females oviposit on emergent vegetation at night, but will also lay their eggs on rocks and manmade surfaces like boats. Once laid, the eggs take approximately two weeks to hatch, during which time the bright pink or orange coloration of the eggs fades.^[22]

First direct evidence (of all animals), that proteinase inhibitor from eggs of Pomacea canaliculata interacts as trypsin inhibitor with protease of potential predators, has been reported in 2010.^[23]

Predators

The snail kite, Rostrhamus sociabilis, is a predator of this species in South America. The fire ant, Solenopsis geminata, has also been observed to prey upon this species.^[24]

Parasites

Approximately 1% of the Pomacea canaliculata on sale on local markets in Dali City, Yunnan, China were found to be infected with pathogenic Angiostrongylus cantonensis in 2009.^[25]

Control

Crude cyclotide extracts from both Oldenlandia affinis and Viola odorata plants showed molluscicidal activity comparable to the synthetic molluscicide metaldehyde.^[26] Because submerging developing eggs below the water reduces hatching success, manipulating the water level in agricultural fields and dammed reservoirs may provide a tool for controlling invasive populations.^[22]

Human use

 

Filipino ginataang kuhol (apple snails in coconut milk)

This species is edible. Pomacea canaliculata constitutes one of the three predominant freshwater snails found in Chinese markets.^[27] In China and Southeast Asia, consumption of raw or undercooked snails of Pomacea canaliculata and other snails is the primary route of infection with Angiostrongylus cantonensis causing angiostrongyliasis.^[25]

In Isan, Thailand these snails are collected and consumed. They are picked by hand or with a hand-net from canals, swamps, ponds, and flooded paddy fields during the rainy season. During the dry season when these snails are concealed under dried mud, collectors use a spade to scrape the mud in order to find them. The snails are usually collected by women and children.^[28] After collection, the snails are cleaned and parboiled. They are then taken out of their shells, cut, and cleaned in salted water. After rinsing with water, they are mixed with roasted rice, dried chili pepper, lime juice, and fish sauce, and then eaten.^[28]

Special dishes using Pomacea canaliculata are also produced in China. Dish name is 田螺塞肉.^[29]

Some French restaurants are trying to use Pomacea canaliculata as an alternative to escargot.^[30] After boiling, remove Pomacea canaliculata guts and eggs.  Washing only the muscular body with vinegar will eliminate the odor. As a result, it can be used as an alternative to escargot.^[31]

Pomacea canaliculata has displaced some of the indigenous rice field apple snail species in the genus Pila traditionally eaten in Southeast Asia (including Thailand and the Philippines) such as Pila ampullacea and Pila pesmei; as well as the viviparid trapdoor snail (Cipangopaludina chinensis).^[32][33]

In some paddy fields in Japan, Pomacea canaliulata is used to control weeds by allowing the snail to eat them. However, this method runs risk of the snails also eating young rice plants, and of spreading to nearby fields and waterways as an invasive pest.^[34][35][36]

It is a part of the ornamental pet trade for freshwater aquaria.^[37]

See also

• Keong Emas
• Ovorubin
• Perivitellin-2

References

This article incorporates public domain text from reference^[11] and CC-BY-2.0 text from reference^[28] and CC-BY-2.5 text from reference.^[25]

1. Pastorino, G.; Darrigan, G. (2012). "Pomacea canaliculata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2012: e.T166261A1124485. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012-1.RLTS.T166261A1124485.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
2. 100 of the World's Worst Invasive Alien Species. Global Invasive Species Database http://www.iucngisd.org/database, accessed 29 September 2023.
3. Nentwig W, Bacher S, Kumschick S, Pyšek P, Vilà M (18 December 2017). "More than "100 worst" alien species in Europe". Biological Invasions. 20 (6): 1611–1621. doi:10.1007/s10530-017-1651-6. hdl:10261/158710.
4. Ihering H. (1919). "Las especies de Ampullaria' en la Argentina". I Reunión Nac Soc Arg Cs Nat (Actas): 329-350, Tucumán, Argentina.
5. Cowie R, Thiengo SC. "The apple snails of the Americas (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Ampullariidae: Asolene, Felipponea, Marisa, Pomacea, Pomella): a nomenclatural and type catalog". Malacologia. 45 (1): 41–100.
6. Martín PR, Estebenet AL, Cazzaniga NJ (2001). "Factors affecting the distribution of Pomacea canaliculata (Gastropoda: Ampullariidae) along its southernmost natural limit". Malacologia. 43 (1–2): 13–23.
7. "Channeled Applesnail." Aquatic Invasive Species. Indiana Department of Natural Resources, 16 June 2005. Web. 9 November 2013. <http://www.in.gov/dnr/files/CHANNELED_APPLE_SNAIL.pdf>.
8. D. Shelton, pers. comm. In: United States Geological Survey. 2008. Pomacea canaliculata. USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database, Gainesville, FL. Revision Date: 2/4/2008
9. Ben Raines (29 January 2011). "Amazonian apple snails found in Baldwin pond". Press Register. Retrieved 17 February 2011.
10. J. Bernatis, pers. comm. In: United States Geological Survey. 2008. Pomacea canaliculata. USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database, Gainesville, FL. Revision Date: 2/4/2008
11. United States Geological Survey. 2008. Pomacea canaliculata. USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database, Gainesville, FL. Revision Date: 2/4/2008
12. doi/10.1371/journal.pntd.0000368.g004 map of distribution in 2007 Archived 7 September 2012 at archive.today
13. Lv S, Zhang Y, Liu HX, Hu L, Yang K, Steinmann P, et al. (2009). "Invasive snails and an emerging infectious disease: results from the first national survey on Angiostrongylus cantonensis in China". PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases. 3 (2): e368. doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0000368. PMC 2631131. PMID 19190771. doi/10.1371/journal.pntd.0000368.g004 figure 4 Archived 7 September 2012 at archive.today
14. Jackson D, Jackson D (2009). "Registro de Pomacea canaliculata (LAMARCK, 1822) (AMPULLARIIDAE), molusco exótico para el norte de Chile". Gayana. 73 (1): 40–44. doi:10.4067/s0717-65382009000100006.
15. Mohan, Nalini (25 February 2002). "Introduced Species Summary Project Apple Snail (Pomacea canaliculata)". Columbia University. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
16. Buddie, Alan G. (ORCID); Rwomushana, Ivan (ORCID); Offord, Lisa C. (ORCID); Kibet, Simeon; Makale, Fernadis (ORCID); Djeddour, Djamila (ORCID); Cafa, Giovanni (ORCID); Vincent, Koskei K.; Muvea, Alexander M. (ORCID); Chacha, Duncan (ORCID); Day, Roger K. (ORCID) (25 March 2021). "First report of the invasive snail Pomacea canaliculata in Kenya". CABI Agriculture and Bioscience. CABI (Springer). 2 (1): 11. Bibcode:2021CABio...2...11B. doi:10.1186/s43170-021-00032-z. ISSN 2662-4044. {{cite journal}}: External link in |first10=, |first11=, |first1=, |first2=, |first3=, |first5=, |first6=, |first7=, and |first9= (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
17. Howells, R. Personal communication. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. In: United States Geological Survey. 2008. Pomacea canaliculata. USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database, Gainesville, FL. Revision Date: 2/4/2008
18. Wada T, Matsukura K (December 2007). "Seasonal Changes in Cold Hardiness of the Invasive Freshwater Apple Snail, Pomacea canaliculata (Lamarck) (Gastropoda: Ampullariidae)". Malacologia. 49 (2): 383–392. doi:10.4002/0076-2997-49.2.383. S2CID 85173507.
19. Rawlings TA, Hayes KA, Cowie RH, Collins TM (June 2007). "The identity, distribution, and impacts of non-native apple snails in the continental United States". BMC Evolutionary Biology. 7 (1): 97. Bibcode:2007BMCEE...7...97R. doi:10.1186/1471-2148-7-97. PMC 1919357. PMID 17594487.
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22. Ismail SN, Abdul Wahab NI, Mansor M (2018). "Behavioural study of the golden apple snail (Pomacea canaliculata) in a Tropical Lake, Chenderoh Reservoir, Malaysia". Lakes & Reservoirs: Science, Policy and Management for Sustainable Use. 23 (3): 256–260. Bibcode:2018LRRM...23..256I. doi:10.1111/lre.12223. ISSN 1440-1770. S2CID 91175186.
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24. Yusa Y (2001). "Predation on eggs of the apple snail Pomacea canaliculata (Gastropoda: Ampullaridae) by the fire ant Solenopsis geminata". Journal of Molluscan Studies. 67 (3): 275–279. doi:10.1093/mollus/67.3.275.
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32. Wood TS, Anurakpongsatorn P, Chaichana R, Mahujchariyawong J, Satapanajaru T (May 2006). "Heavy predation on freshwater bryozoans by the golden apple snail, Pomacea canaliculata Lamarck, 1822 (Ampullariidae). Tropical Natural History". The Natural History Journal of Chulalongkorn University. 6 (1): 31–6.
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Further reading

• Cowie RH, Kalo ON, et al. (IUCN/SSC Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG)) (13 April 2005). "Pomacea canaliculata". Global Invasive Species Database.
• Levin P (2006). "Statewide strategic control plan for apple snail (Pomacea canaliculata) in Hawaii".

External links

•   Media related to Pomacea canaliculata at Wikimedia Commons
• http://www.applesnail.net/content/species/pomacea_canaliculata.htm
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95qkP63ONo0
• Species Profile - Channeled Apple Snail (Pomacea canaliculata). National Invasive Species Information Center, United States National Agricultural Library.
• Youtube video: flock of ducks used to control pests including golden apple snails in rice field in Thailand