Apple Snail

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Apple Snail
Snail coming out of its shell (P. bridgesii).
By Mike Knabe
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Scientific Name
Closed shell (P. bridgesii).
Pomacea-Asolene, Marisa, Pomacea and Pomella.
Depending on the specific snail.
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They Live
all found in the New World (South America,
Central America, the West Indies and the Southern
U.S.A.) Apple snails live generally in ponds and
rivers. They are abundant in Florida
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They Breed
Male snails creep up on their partners to breed.
This can take from and hour up to a whole day.
They breed quickly laying from 100 to 1000 eggs.
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They Develop In Eggs
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Respiration
Apple snails breathe with an interesting
combination of gills and lungs. They use a
unique siphon to breathe air when the dissolved
oxygen level is low in a pond. This system also
comes in useful when the snail needs to migrate
out of the water for food. When they go to lay
their eggs they can lay them out of the water for
a lessened threat of fish eating the eggs.
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They Eat Plant Matter
Apple snails are herbivores. In the wild eat
plant matter, and sometimes decaying animal
matter, however, they are sometimes used as
cleaners for fish tanks. When using snails as
fish tank cleaners, be sure to take out any live
plants because they will make a worse mess than
they will clean.
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Radula
A Radula is a row of teeth used for tearing plant
material
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Muscular Foot
The muscular foot is not only used for movement,
but it is also used as a sort of protection. The
shell door is attached to the foot of the snail
and it is very hard to open that door.
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Size
The volume of an Apple Snail can be determined by
using the following equation Volume 1/3Pi
(Shell width/2)2 Shell length
Baby snails can be 2.5 cm /1 inch (2-5 months)
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Bibliography
All pictures credited to (P. bridgesii).
Apple Snails. Huizen2.dds.nlsnc
Snails. Grolier Electronic Encyclopedia
Snails. World Book Encyclopedia