Aquatic Invertebrates - native

Common River Snail (Juga plicifera) on Mar 16, 2013

Submitter has sample

Description of specimen

Small black snail less than an inch long. Thin, narrow cone like shell with several whorls. The "mouth" retreats over the entrance when disturbed, so that the entrance is closed. Found them clinging on some sort of aquatic or semi-aquatic plant underwater.

Commentary

Hi Alicja, thanks so much for your report, and the excellent pictures that accompanied your report!

The species in the photos are likely the native common river snail (Juga plicifera). They frequently show up in large numbers, but usually with a mixture of sizes. They are considerably larger than the invasive New Zealand mudsnails.

Thanks so much for your report, and for helping us keep an eye out for new invasives!

Lisa DeBruyckere
March 17, 2013, 10:54 a.m.