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Island Apple Snail, Pomacea insularum (d'Orbigny 1837). Size: 70-80mm diameter, 80mm tall (shell). Origin: Uruguay, Argentina Distribution: Texas, Georgia, Florida Confirmed Location(s): Barker-Cypress Reservoir Habitat: Retention ponds, lakes, reservoirs Description: The shell is rounded with a small apex. Large specimens are about the size of a baseball. The shell is usually green with dark stripes, and is often found with a thick coating of algae. It has an operculum. The body has two tentacles, a long pair of antennae, and a siphon. It lays pink eggs. Distinguishing Features: Perforate, not reflected, operculate.
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Giant Ramshorn Snail, Marisa cornuarietis (Linnaeus, 1758). Size: 25-50mm diameter, 10-15mm tall (shell). Origin: Columbia, Central & South America Distribution: Confirmed Location(s): San Marcos River, Manvel Habitat: Rivers, ponds, creeks Description: The shell is circular and shaped like a blood cell (the outermost whorl being largest, the smaller whorls sinking into the center like a crater). The shell is green or yellowish-brown, with dark green or brown bands. It can have a very dark periostracum. Distinguishing Features: Not reflected, operculate.
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Physidae  |
Genus: Physella Size: 5-10mm tall Origin: unknown Distribution: Confirmed Location(s): Houston, Manvel Habitat: Retention ponds, drainage ditches, creeks, reservoirs Description: The shell is uniformly sinistral, with the aperture on the left side. It is usually a dark brown color, and the surface is quite smooth. Distinguishing Features: Sinistral, imperforate, not reflected
This snail can adjust its buoyancy and float on the surface of the water. Underwater, it can be extremely fast...for a snail, that is.
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Red-Rim Melania, Melanoides tuberculatus (Müller, 1774). Size: 20-30mm tall (shell). Origin: Malaysia Distribution: Confirmed Location(s): drainage ditch in Harris County Habitat: creeks, ponds, etc. Description: The shell is tall and auger-shaped, having about 9 whorls. The color is grayish-brown, with flecks of red or chestnut color. The apex is generally bleached white. The body is a ruddy color and has an operculum. Distinguishing Features: Perforate, not reflected, operculate.
This snail travels from place to place on aquatic plants that are exported through the aquarium trade.
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For a complete list of freshwater snails of houston, click here.
