Conch-lers,

I'm a few days behind in my Conch-L digests but I offer this alternative to
the answers received to Nora's questions below regarding "Mystery Snails".
I would suggest that they may not be either Ampullaria or Pomacea but
Cipangopaludina chinensis malleatus, a viviparid from Asia called the
Chinese mystery snail.  It has been introduced across the country and has
just recently (last 10 years or so) been spotted in Illinois.  I now have
specimens from about 6 different drainages.  The thing that points away
from this is the color morphs mentioned in Nora's post.  All of the
Cipangopaludina I've seen are olive brown.   Just another possibility to
consider.

Kevin

>Date:    Wed, 16 Jun 1999 12:23:15 -0600
>From:    NORA BRYAN <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Mystery Snails

>1.  Does anyone know anything about these snails - where they come from
>etc - I didn't get a chance to really examine them, but they are on the
>large side, over an inch high, rounded with a large body whorl and
>apparently come in several shells colours - "blue", brown and even
>albino. I would imagine that here in Calgary there is no danger of them
>becoming a menace to indiginous species.

>2.  I have been told that they are suitable for ponds here in Calgary
>and that they would be effective algae eaters. Since I will need to
>empty the pond in the fall, could they be overwintered indoors in an
>aquarium or tub along with the goldfish?
>Any advice or information from gardeners and freshwater snail
>enthusiasts would be very welcome!

>Date:    Wed, 16 Jun 1999 15:15:14 -0400
>From:    ejpower <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Re: Mystery Snails

>Hi, These are Apularia sp., they are sold in black, blue, yellow or
>gold, albino etc etc.  Most fish shops say they are Ampularia cuprina or
>Ampularia gigas. Only the snails know for sure.  There is supposed to be
>a website or a collector or a scientist/student scializing in these,
>sorry I dont have a URL for that. The Ampularia sp. we have in Florida,
>paludosa I think??, will wipe out your plants in pond or aquarium.
>Supposedly the shops sell a species that is more benign to plants.
>
>Later,
>Emilio Jorge Power
>
Date:    Wed, 16 Jun 1999 15:41:34 EDT
>From:    [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Mystery Snails
>
>Ampullaria is not a valid Genus name according to Fred Thompson in his book,
>Freshwater Snails of Florida. The apple snails commonly sold in stores are
>usually the South American Pomacea bridgesi and P. caniculata and not both
>are now found in the wild in parts of South Florida. I would not suggest
>putting any non-native species into these ponds (this is the way the P.
>bridgesi and P. caniculata got into the waters of south florida). In addition
>I'm not sure they would make it due to the cold since these are tropical
>snails.
>

Kevin S. Cummings
Illinois Natural History Survey
607 E. Peabody Drive
Champaign, IL 61820
[log in to unmask]
http://www.inhs.uiuc.edu/cbd/collections/mollusk.html