The island apple snail inhabits South America and has spread to USA, China and Thailand.
Biological Name
Pomacea maculata Perry, 1810
previously known as Pomacea insularum
Common Name
Island apple snail
Other Common Names
Channelled apple snail, South American channelled-type apple snail
Appearance/Characteristics
A large freshwater snail, whose shell may reach the size of an apple. The shell is globular in shape and can grow up to 150 mm in length. Its size and appearance is highly variable. The egg colour is pink. The island apple snail can be distinguished by an expert from the golden apple snail by shell morphology and internal anatomy in the adult stage as well as by DNA sequencing.
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