At 04:36 PM 5/7/99 -0400, you wrote:
>
> Andrew Vik
> Tampa, FL., USA
> [log in to unmask]
>
> Thomas:
>
> Actually, I think that Cipangopaludina malleatus and C. japonicus are two
> unique species from Asia which have both been introduced to the U.S. Burch
> (North American Freshwater Snails, 1989, p.88) illustrates both. We have C.
> japonicus here in Hillsborough County, but no malleatus. Thompson
(Freshwater
> Snails of Florida, 1984, p.11) said that C. malleatus had been introduced
here
> (St. Petersburg) in the 1920's, but has not been found since. Apparently he
> did not know about our C. japonicus, which he does not list in his book
>
> Andrew
 
 
I agree. In Ohio, C. japonicus is widespread in large rivers, whereas I have
only seen malleatus from a few reservoirs. Assuming these have been released
from aquaria by owners who never dreamed these little snails would grow to the
size of a Yugo, I have yet to find one of the "golden" (albino) forms so
prevalent at pet stores. Perhaps they do not breed true.
 
 
*****************************************
 G Thomas Watters
 Ohio Biological Survey &
 Aquatic Ecology Laboratory
 Ohio State University
 1315 Kinnear Road
 Columbus, OH 43212 USA
 v: 614-292-6170  f: 614-292-0181
******************************************
 
"The world is my oyster except for months with an 'R' in them" - Firesign
Theater
 
"If I only had a brain" - The Scarecrow