''Biomphalaria'' is a genus of air-breathing

freshwater snail Freshwater snails are gastropod mollusks which live in fresh water. There are many different families. They are found throughout the world in various habitats, ranging from ephemeral pools to the largest lakes, and from small seeps and springs ...

s, aquatic

pulmonate Pulmonata or pulmonates, is an informal group (previously an order, and before that a subclass) of snails and slugs characterized by the ability to breathe air, by virtue of having a pallial lung instead of a gill, or gills. The group includ ...

gastropod The gastropods (), commonly known as snails and slugs, belong to a large taxonomic class of invertebrates within the phylum Mollusca called Gastropoda (). This class comprises snails and slugs from saltwater, from freshwater, and from land. T ...

mollusks in the family Planorbidae, the ram's horn snails and their allies.MolluscaBase (2018). Biomphalaria Preston, 1910. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=718742 on 2018-02-13 ''Biomphalaria'' is the type genus of the tribe Biomphalariini. ''Taphius'' is a synonym for ''Biomphalaria''. The shell of this species, like all planorbids is sinistral in coiling, but is carried upside down and thus appears to be dextral. Biomphalaria tenagophila shell

Species

As of 2008 there were recognized 34 extant species in the genus ''Biomphalaria'' in total (22 American species and 12 Old World species). There were also described number of fossil ''Biomphalaria'' species. American species include: # ''

Biomphalaria amazonica ''Biomphalaria'' is a genus of air-breathing freshwater snails, aquatic pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Planorbidae, the ram's horn snails and their allies.MolluscaBase (2018). Biomphalaria Preston, 1910. Accessed through: World Regi ...

'' Paraense, 1966 # ''

Biomphalaria andecola ''Biomphalaria andecola'' is a species of air-breathing freshwater snail, an aquatic pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Planorbidae, the ram's horn snails. The shell of this species, like all planorbids is sinistral in coiling, but is c ...

'' (d'Orbigny, 1835) # ''

Biomphalaria cousini ''Biomphalaria'' is a genus of air-breathing freshwater snails, aquatic pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Planorbidae, the ram's horn snails and their allies.MolluscaBase (2018). Biomphalaria Preston, 1910. Accessed through: World Regi ...

'' # ''

Biomphalaria edisoni ''Biomphalaria'' is a genus of air-breathing freshwater snails, aquatic pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Planorbidae, the ram's horn snails and their allies.MolluscaBase (2018). Biomphalaria Preston, 1910. Accessed through: World Regi ...

'' Estrada, Velásquez, Caldeira, Bejarano, Rojas & Carvalho, 2006 # '' Biomphalaria glabrata'' (Say, 1818) # ''

Biomphalaria havanensis ''Biomphalaria havanensis'', common name the ghost rams-horn, is a species of air-breathing freshwater snail, an aquatic pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Planorbidae, the ram's horn snails. The shell of this species, like all planorbi ...

'' (L. Pfeiffer, 1839) # ''

Biomphalaria helophila ''Biomphalaria'' is a genus of air-breathing freshwater snails, aquatic pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Planorbidae, the ram's horn snails and their allies.MolluscaBase (2018). Biomphalaria Preston, 1910. Accessed through: World Regi ...

'' (d'Orbigny, 1835) # ''

Biomphalaria intermedia ''Biomphalaria'' is a genus of air-breathing freshwater snails, aquatic pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Planorbidae, the ram's horn snails and their allies.MolluscaBase (2018). Biomphalaria Preston, 1910. Accessed through: World Regi ...

'' (Paraense & Deslandes, 1962)Rumi A., Gregoric D. E. G., Núñez V. & Darrigran G. A. (2008). "Malacología Latinoamericana. Moluscos de agua dulce de Argentina". '' Revista de Biología Tropical'' 56(1): 77–111
HTM
# ''

Biomphalaria kuhniana ''Biomphalaria kuhniana'' is a species of air-breathing freshwater snail, an aquatic pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Planorbidae, the ram's horn snails. Shell description All species within the family Planorbidae have sinistra ...

'' (Clessin, 1883) # † ''

Biomphalaria manya ''Biomphalaria'' is a genus of air-breathing freshwater snails, aquatic pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Planorbidae, the ram's horn snails and their allies.MolluscaBase (2018). Biomphalaria Preston, 1910. Accessed through: World Regi ...

'' Cabrera & Martinez, 2018 # ''

Biomphalaria obstructa ''Biomphalaria'' is a genus of air-breathing freshwater snails, aquatic pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Planorbidae, the ram's horn snails and their allies.MolluscaBase (2018). Biomphalaria Preston, 1910. Accessed through: World Regi ...

'' # ''

Biomphalaria occidentalis ''Biomphalaria'' is a genus of air-breathing freshwater snails, aquatic pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Planorbidae, the ram's horn snails and their allies.MolluscaBase (2018). Biomphalaria Preston, 1910. Accessed through: World Regi ...

'' Paraense, 1981 # ''

Biomphalaria oligoza ''Biomphalaria'' is a genus of air-breathing freshwater snails, aquatic pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Planorbidae, the ram's horn snails and their allies.MolluscaBase (2018). Biomphalaria Preston, 1910. Accessed through: World Regi ...

'' Paraense, 1974 # ''

Biomphalaria orbignyi ''Biomphalaria'' is a genus of air-breathing freshwater snails, aquatic pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Planorbidae, the ram's horn snails and their allies.MolluscaBase (2018). Biomphalaria Preston, 1910. Accessed through: World Regi ...

'' Paraense, 1975 # '' Biomphalaria peregrina'' (d'Orbigny, 1835) # ''

Biomphalaria prona ''Biomphalaria'' is a genus of air-breathing freshwater snails, aquatic pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Planorbidae, the ram's horn snails and their allies.MolluscaBase (2018). Biomphalaria Preston, 1910. Accessed through: World Regi ...

'' # ''

Biomphalaria schrammi ''Biomphalaria schrammi'' is a species of gastropods belonging to the family Planorbidae. The species is found in Southern America. References {{Taxonbar, from=Q20045945 Planorbidae Gastropods described in 1864 ...

'' (Crosse, 1864) # '' Biomphalaria straminea'' (Dunker, 1848) # ''

Biomphalaria subprona ''Biomphalaria'' is a genus of air-breathing freshwater snails, aquatic animal, aquatic pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family (biology), family Planorbidae, the sheep, ram's horn snails and their allies.MolluscaBase (2018). Biomphalaria Pre ...

'' (Martens, 1899) # ''

Biomphalaria temascalensis ''Biomphalaria'' is a genus of air-breathing freshwater snails, aquatic pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Planorbidae, the ram's horn snails and their allies.MolluscaBase (2018). Biomphalaria Preston, 1910. Accessed through: World Regi ...

'' Rangel-Ruiz, 1987 # ''

Biomphalaria tenagophila ''Biomphalaria tenagophila'' is a species of air-breathing freshwater snail, an aquatic pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Planorbidae, the ram's horn snails. This species is medically important pest, because of transferring the diseas ...

'' (d'Orbigny, 1835)

Old World The "Old World" is a term for Afro-Eurasia that originated in Europe , after Europeans became aware of the existence of the Americas. It is used to contrast the continents of Africa, Europe, and Asia, which were previously thought of by the ...

(Africa, Madagascar and the Middle East) species include: # '' Biomphalaria alexandrina'' # ''

Biomphalaria angulosa ''Biomphalaria angulosa'' is a species of air-breathing freshwater snail, an aquatic pulmonate gastropod The gastropods (), commonly known as snails and slugs, belong to a large taxonomic class of invertebrates within the phylum Mollusca ...

'' Mandahl-Barth, 1957 # ''

Biomphalaria barthi ''Biomphalaria barthi'' is a species of air-breathing freshwater snail, an aquatic pulmonate gastropod The gastropods (), commonly known as snails and slugs, belong to a large taxonomic class of invertebrates within the phylum Mollusca c ...

'' Brown, 1973 # '' Biomphalaria camerunensis'' # '' Biomphalaria choanomphala'' # '' Biomphalaria pfeifferi'' (Krauss, 1848) # ''

Biomphalaria salinarum ''Biomphalaria salinarum'' is a species of air-breathing freshwater snail, an aquatic animal, aquatic pulmonate gastropod Mollusc, mollusk in the family (biology), family Planorbidae, the sheep, ram's horn snails. This is a ''Species inquirenda, ...

'' Morelet # '' Biomphalaria smithi'' Preston, 1910 - type species # '' Biomphalaria stanleyi'' (Smith, 1888) # '' Biomphalaria sudanica'' (Martens, 1870) # ''

Biomphalaria tchadiensis ''Biomphalaria tchadiensis'' is a species of air-breathing freshwater snail, an aquatic pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Planorbidae, the ram's horn snails. This species is endemic to lake Chad Lake Chad (french: Lac Tchad) ...

'' Germain, 1904 # ''

Biomphalaria ruppellii ''Biomphalaria'' is a genus of air-breathing freshwater snails, aquatic animal, aquatic pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family (biology), family Planorbidae, the sheep, ram's horn snails and their allies.MolluscaBase (2018). Biomphalaria Pre ...

'' Auet. - subspecies: ''Biomphalaria ruppellii ruppellii'' Auet.; ''Biomphalaria ruppellii katangae'' Haas There is one known hybrid ''

Biomphalaria glabrata × Biomphalaria alexandrina ''Biomphalaria'' is a genus of air-breathing freshwater snails, aquatic pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Planorbidae, the ram's horn snails and their allies.MolluscaBase (2018). Biomphalaria Preston, 1910. Accessed through: World ...

'' from Egypt. A cladogram showing phylogenic relations of (23 analyzed) species in the genus ''Biomphalaria'':
text

Distribution

The origin of the genus ''Biomphalaria'' is American. The ancestor of '' Biomphalaria glabrata'' colonized Africa 2.3–4.5 or 2-5/ millions years ago and speciated into all the African ''Biomphalaria'' species. Natural populations of these snails are usually found in tropical standing water or freshwater in South America and Africa, but they also reach 30° latitude in subtropical areas. Many species of these red-blooded planorbid snails (Gastropoda: Basommatophora) are able to survive a long time when removed from their freshwater habitat. Of the 34 ''Biomphalaria'' species, 4 ('' Biomphalaria glabrata'', '' Biomphalaria pfeifferi'', '' Biomphalaria straminea'', and ''

'') have recently expanded their native ranges. They have been introduced to areas where other ''Biomphalaria'' species are endemic (e.g., Congo and Egypt) or to subtropical zones that have no frost period (Texas, Louisiana, Florida, Hong Kong). All species in the genus ''Biomphalaria'' except of native ''

'' has not yet become established in the US, but they are considered to represent a potentially serious threat as a

pest Pest or The Pest may refer to: Science and medicine * Pest (organism), an animal or plant deemed to be detrimental to humans or human concerns ** Weed, a plant considered undesirable * Infectious disease, an illness resulting from an infection ** ...

, an

invasive species An invasive species otherwise known as an alien is an introduced organism that becomes overpopulated and harms its new environment. Although most introduced species are neutral or beneficial with respect to other species, invasive species ad ...

which could negatively affect agriculture, natural ecosystems, human health or commerce. Therefore, it has been suggested that this species be given top national quarantine significance in the USA.

Parasites

This genus of snails is medically important, because the snails can carry a parasite of humans which represents a serious disease risk: the snails serve as an

intermediate host In biology and medicine, a host is a larger organism that harbours a smaller organism; whether a parasitic, a mutualistic, or a commensalist ''guest'' (symbiont). The guest is typically provided with nourishment and shelter. Examples include a ...

( vector) for the human parasitic

blood fluke ''Schistosoma'' is a genus of trematodes, commonly known as blood flukes. They are parasitic flatworms responsible for a highly significant group of infections in humans termed '' schistosomiasis'', which is considered by the World Health Orga ...

, ''

Schistosoma mansoni A paired couple of ''Schistosoma mansoni''. ''Schistosoma mansoni'' is a water-borne parasite of humans, and belongs to the group of blood flukes (''Schistosoma''). The adult lives in the blood vessels ( mesenteric veins) near the human inte ...

'', that infects about 83 million people. The human disease

schistosomiasis Schistosomiasis, also known as snail fever, bilharzia, and Katayama fever, is a disease caused by parasitic flatworms called schistosomes. The urinary tract or the intestines may be infected. Symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhea, bloody s ...

(aka snail fever) caused by all ''

Schistosoma ''Schistosoma'' is a genus of trematodes, commonly known as blood flukes. They are parasitic flatworms responsible for a highly significant group of infections in humans termed '' schistosomiasis'', which is considered by the World Health Organ ...

'' species (transmitted also by other snails) infects 200 million people.The Carter Cente
"Schistosomiasis Control Program"
Accessed 20 November 2009. The fluke, which is found primarily in tropical areas, infects mammals (including humans) via contact with water that contains schistosome larvae (cercariae) which have previously been released from the snail. Infection occurs via penetration of cercariae through the skin. Eighteen species of ''Biomphalaria'' are intermediate hosts for ''Schistosoma mansoni''; seven species of the genus have not been tested for this susceptibility and nine species are resistant. Altogether about 30 species of parasites from Africa and at least 20 species from the Neotropics are known to parasitize ''Biomphalaria''.

References

This article incorporates public domain text from the Majoros ''et al.'' reference.

Species

Distribution

Parasites

References

Further reading