From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Tarebia granifera
Tarebia granifera
Tarebia granifera • Melania granifera
• Tarebia lateritia
Tarebia granifera common name in the aquarium indus-
granifera,
try the quilted melania [1] is a species of freshwater snail
melania,
with an operculum, an aquatic gastropod mollusk in the
family Thiaridae. This snail is native to south-eastern
Asia, but it has become an invasive species in numerous
countries.
Apertural view of a shell of an adult Tarebia granifera. The
height of the shell is 22.0 mm.
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Shells of Tarebia granifera.
(unranked): clade Caenogastropoda
clade Sorbeoconcha
Superfamily: Cerithioidea
Subspecies
Subspecies of Tarebia granifera include:
Family: Thiaridae • Tarebia granifera granifera (Lamarck, 1822)
Genus: Tarebia • Tarebia granifera mauiensis Brot, 1877[2]
Species: T. granifera
Binomial name
Description
A detailed account of the anatomy of Tarebia granifera was
Tarebia granifera
(Lamarck, 1822)
given by R. Tucker Abbott in 1952[3] together with notes
on its biology and bionomics. A dissection guide was pro-
Synonyms vided by Malek (1962).[4]
• Thiara granifera
1
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Tarebia granifera
The maximum height of adult shells of this species to concrete lined reservoirs and ornamental ponds.[1] It
from South Africa is from 18.5 mm to 25.1 mm,[1] while in reaches very high densities, up to 21 000 m², and is likely
Puerto Rico they can reach up to 35 mm.[5] to impact on the entire indigenous benthos of the natural
Two color forms of Tarebia granifera are found, one waterbodies of the region – more so than any other in-
has a pale brown body whorl and a dark spire (see photo vasive freshwater invertebrate known from the South
on the right) and in the other the shell is entirely dark Africa.[1] The South African indigenous thiarids Thiara
brown to almost black (see photo on the left).[1] Interme- amarula, Melanoides tuberculata, and Cleopatra ferruginea
diate forms exist.[1] are considered particularly vulnerable.[1]
Most localities in South Africa (93%) lie below an al-
Distribution titude of 300 m above sea level where an estimated area
of 39 500 km2 has been colonized.[1] The only known lo-
calities outside this area are the Umsinduzi River in Pi-
Indigenous distribution etermaritzburg and its confluence with the Umgeni River
The indigenous distribution of this species includes the which lie closer to 500 m.[1] R. Tucker Abbott (1952)[3]
general area of these countries: India, Sri Lanka, Philip- noted that on Guam Island, Tarebia granifera occurred in
pines, Hawaii, southern Japan, Society Islands,[5] Tai- streams and rivers at 983 m altitude but that these wa-
wan,[6] Hong Kong,[7] Thailand.[8] tercourses were consistently above 24°C indicating that
temperature may be an important determinant of distri-
Nonidigenous distribution bution.[1]
Tarebia granifera has become invasive on at least three Tarebia granifera also occurs in several estuaries along
continents:North and South America and Africa.[1] Initial the KwaZulu-Natal coast.[1] Prominent among these is
introductions were presumably via the aquarium the dense population (±6038 m2) found at a salinity of
trade.[1] 9.98‰ (28.5% sea water) in Catalina Bay, Lake St Lucia,
Americas: iSimangaliso Wetland Park, KwaZulu-Natal.[1] These
• It occurs in several southern states of the U.S.A.:[1] records show that Tarebia granifera is able to colonize
Puerto Rico,[9] Florida, Texas[5] and Idaho[10] brackish and moderately saline habitats and reach high
• Hawaii[1] densities there.[1] From observations in Puerto Rico it
• Many Caribbean islands:[1] was suggested that snails could survive temporarily
• Cuba[11][12] - also with Physella acuta it is the most saline conditions for several weeks by burying them-
common freshwater snail in Cuba[13] selves in the substratum, emerging when fresh water re-
• The Dominican Republic[14] turned.[1][9]
• Saint Lucia[15] In common with other Thiaridae, Tarebia granifera is
• Martinique since 1991[16][17][18] primarily a benthic species and in South Africa has been
• Central America:[5] Mexico[1] collected on a variety of substrata in both natural and ar-
• El Hatillo Municipality, Miranda, Venezuela[1] tificial waterbodies, e.g. sand, mud, rock, concrete bridge
Africa: foundations and the concrete walls and bottoms of reser-
• South Africa[19] The Tarebia granifera was reported voirs, irrigation canals and ornamental ponds.[1] Many
from South Africa (and Africa) for the first time in of these habitats were vegetated and the associated veg-
1999 in northern KwaZulu-Natal though it was etation included many types of emergent monocotyle-
probably introduced sometime prior to 1996.[1] In dons (e.g. Cyperus papyrus, Scirpus sp., Typha sp., Phrag-
the 10 years since its discovery it has spread rapidly, mites sp.) and dicotyledons (e.g. Ceratophyllum demersum,
particularly northwards, into Mpumalanga province, Potamogeton crispus, Nymphaea nouchali).[1] Where densi-
the Kruger National Park and Swaziland.[1] ties are high, Tarebia granifera may also occur on margin-
This spread will doubtless continue into northern South al, trailing vegetation and the floating Common Water
Africa, Moçambique, Zimbabwe and beyond.[1] It has not Hyacinth Eichhornia crassipes as well.[1] It favours turbu-
been possible to calculate the rate of dispersal. [1] lent water and tolerates current speeds up to 1.2m.s−1
Asia: and possibly greater.[1] This habitat range is similar to
• Israel (non-indigenous)[1] that recorded for Tarebia granifera in Puerto Rico.[1][9]
The major interest in Tarebia granifera outside Asia to-
day is its invasive ability and its impact on indigenous
Ecology benthic communities in colonized waterbodies.[1]
Typically half or more of these snails were buried in
Habitat the sediments and were not visible from the surface.[1]
In the South Africa, the snail has colonized different This was also noticed in aquaria where they actively
types of habitat, from rivers, lakes and irrigation canals buried themselves in sand.[1] Exact proportion of popula-
tion of Tarebia granifera that is buried at any time is not
2
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Tarebia granifera
known.[1] There is also not known how long can snails re- of sites in northern KwaZulu-Natal, where was measured
main buried.[1] desnsities 843.6 ±320.2 m−2 to 20764.4 ±13828.1 m−2.[1] The
Tarebia granifera will die at the temperature 7 °C in site with such high density was non-flowing, devoid of
aquaria,[5] but they do not live in water temperature un- rooted vegetation but it was shaded by trees (Barringtonia
der 10 °C in the wild.[5] racemosa) and by floating Eichhornia crassipes.[1] This
between-site variability may be positively correlated to
Dispersal habitat heterogeneity and food availability.[1] Despite the
It is probable that dispersal of Tarebia granifera from one very high densities recorded in the Nseleni River, indige-
waterbody or river catchment to another occurs passive- nous invertebrates were still present in the sediments
ly via birds, notably waterfowl, which eat them and void including:[1] bivalve Chambardia wahlbergi, chironomids,
them later, perhaps in another habitat.[1] Evidence for oligochaetes (tubificids) and burrowing polychaetes were
this comes from the finding of many small Tarebia grani- also found but in very low numbers.[1]
fera 5–7 mm in height and still containing the soft parts The low densities of Tarebia granifera reported for the
in unidentified bird droppings from the bank of the Mh- Mhlatuze River, South Africa may have been influenced
lali River, South Africa.[1] Even though the shell of Tarebia by nearby sand-mining activities or, more likely, high
granifera is thick, most of these juveniles had been par- flows and mobile sediments, but they nevertheless ap-
tially crushed with only a few still intact.[1] Both the in- proach those recorded by Dudgeon (1980)[7] for Tarebia
tact and damaged specimens could have been alive when granifera in its native Hong Kong (18–193 m−2).[1]
passed and perhaps survived had they been deposited in Little is known of the long term population fluctua-
water.[1] None was large enough to have been reproduc- tions of Tarebia granifera and findings seem to be contra-
tively mature (see below) and would have needed to sur- dictory.[1] Studies in Cuba (Yong et al. (1987),[20] Ferrer
vive in any new habitat for several months before repro- López et al. (1989),[21] Fernández et al. (1992)[12]) indi-
ducing.[1] cate that the snail lives for more than a year though max-
Passive dispersal may also occur via weed on boats imum densities were recorded at different times of the
and boat trailers and via water pumped from one water- year in different habitats.[1] Using a catch per unit effort
body to another for industrial and irrigation purposes.[1] netting technique, Yong et al. (1987)[20] and Ferrer López
In the Nseleni River juvenile Tarebia granifera were com- et al. (1989)[21] found highest densities in summer when
monly found with another invasive snail, Pseudosuccinea temperatures reached their maximum whereas Fernán-
columella, on floating clumps of water hyacinth Eichhornia dez et al. (1992)[12] found highest densities in November
crassipes which provide a vehicle for rapid downstream (late autumn) when temperatures reached their mini-
dispersal.[1] mum.[1] Fernández et al. (1992)[12] also suggested that
Once established in a particular waterbody Tarebia Tarebia granifera density was positively correlated with
granifera is likely to disperse actively, both up and down- Ca2+ concentrations and negatively with NH4 concentra-
stream in the case of flowing systems, as far as environ- tions.[1]
mental factors like current speed and food availability Recent surveys by Vázquez et al. (2010)[13] of Pinar
will allow.[1] The snail’s tolerance of turbulent, flowing del Río Province, Cuba have reported population densi-
water was demonstrated by Prentice (1983)[15] who re- ties of Tarebia granifera of 85 individuals/m2, well above
ported it migrating upstream on the Caribbean island of those of its endemic relatives (5 individuals/m2).[13]
Saint Lucia at a rate of 100 m month−1 in streams dis-
charging up to 50 l.s−1.[1] In KwaZulu-Natal it has been Feeding habits
collected in water flowing at up to 1.2 m.s−1 which is Tarebia granifera feeds on algae, diatoms and detritus.[5]
likely to exceed the current speeds of at least the lower
and middle reaches of many rivers and streams in South Life cycle
Africa making these watercourses open to coloniza- Tarebia granifera is both parthenogenetic and ovovivipa-
tion.[1] rous,[1] although males have been reported.[5] These are
The sole of Tarebia granifera is proportionally small characteristics which are undoubtedly key to its success
when compared to other thiarids and smaller snails with as an invader.[1] For example no males have been found
their higher coefficients were less able to grip the sub- amongst hundreds dissected from KwaZulu-Natal, it is
stratum in the face of moving water and so not did dis- probable that a few are present.[1] Males were found in
perse as effectively as larger ones.[1] most (6/7) populations examined in Puerto Rico but were
generally uncommon at up to 22.7% of the population
Density (mean 4.6%).[1][22] Live sperm were present in the testes
In Florida Tucker Abbott (1952)[3] recorded a density of of these males but the genitalia were apparently non-
Tarebia granifera 4444 m−2 which falls within the range of functional.[1] R. Tucker Abbott (1952)[3] failed to find
densities measured with a Van Veen grab in a number sperm in the gonads of male Tarebia granifera from Flori-
3
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Tarebia granifera
Appleton et al. (2009)[1] extrapolated data by Yong et
al. (1987),[20] Ferrer López et al. (1989)[21] and by Fernán-
dez et al.(1992)[12] and they resulted that sexual maturity
is reached at an age of about five months.[1] Reported
variation in maturation period varies from 97–143 days
(3.2-4.8 months)[9] under the laboratory conditions to
6–12 months, also from laboratory data.[1][3][23] It is dif-
ficult to relate shell size at the onset of maturity to age
since the size structure of populations vary over time and
from one locality to another.[1]
Dissection of Tarebia granifera showed blastula stage
embryos in the brood pouches of snails as small as 8 mm
shell height.[1] Small numbers of shelled embryos, in-
cluding veligers, were found in snails of 10–14 mm but
became more plentiful in snails >14 mm and especially
those >20 mm.[1] Importantly, unshelled embryos (blas-
tula, gastrula and trochophore stages) were not found in
snails >16 mm and the numbers of shelled embryos them-
selves decreased in the largest snails, >24 mm.[1] This
suggests that differentiation of germinal cells in the
ovary and their subsequent arrival in the brood pouch as
blastulae is not a continuous process over a breeding sea-
son but occurs as one or more ‘cohorts’ or ‘pulses’ which
A scanning electron microscopic image of an apertural view of stop before the birth rate of young snails reaches its max-
a newborn shell of Tarebia granifera. imum.[1] So it seems that while the first birth may occur
in snails as small as 8 mm, these are few and most juve-
niles are born to snails >14 mm.[1] The size of the shell of
da.[1] Most Tarebia granifera are therefore clones of the fe-
the parent at peak release of juveniles is 24.0 mm.[1]
male parent.[1]
The reproductive biology of Tarebia granifera needs
Embryos develop in a brood pouch.[1] This pouch is
to be investigated in detail before its population dynam-
a compartmentalized structure lying immediately above
ics can be properly interpreted from quantitative sam-
the oesophagus and develops only after the snail has
pling.[1]
reached maturity.[1] Its size expands as the number of
embryos increases.[1][3][4] Tarebia granifera has 1-77 em-
bryos in its brood pouch.[1]
Parasites
Tucker Abbott (1952),[3] Chaniotis et al. (1980)[9] and Tarebia granifera serves as the first intermediate host for
WHO (1981)[23] cite the same statistic that females can a variety of trematodes in its native south east Asia.[1]
give birth to one juvenile every 12 hours![1] Young snails Amongst these are several species of the family Hetero-
emerge through a birth pore on the right side of the phyidae some of which have been reported as oppor-
head.[1] The newborn shell is Revision
pieces of shell and soft tissue are carried into machin-
Date 4 February 2009.
ery.[1] Details of the nature and extent of this damage and
[11] Gutierrez A., Perera G., Yong M. & Fernandez J. A.
the costs incurred are not available.[1] There is no doubt
(1997). "Relationships of the Prosobranch snails
that Tarebia granifera is able to pass unharmed through
Pomacea paludosa, Tarebia granifera and Melanoides
pumps, probably as juveniles.[1]
tuberculata with the abiotic environment and
freshwater snail diversity in the central region of
References 30:
Cuba". Malacologial Review 30 39-44.
This article incorporates CC-BY-3.0 text from refer- [12] ^ (Spanish) Fernández L. D., Casalis A. E., Masa A.
ences.[1][13] M. & Perez M. V. (1992). "Estudio preliminar de la
variación de Tarebia granifera (Lamarck), Río
5
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Tarebia granifera
Hatibonico, Camagüey". Revista Cubana de Medicina [25] Mukaratirwa S., Hove T., Cindzi Z. M., Maononga D.
44:
Tropical 44 66-70. B., Taruvinga M. & Matenga E. (2005). "First report
[13] ^ Vázquez A. A. & Perera S. (2010). "Endemic of an outbreak of the oriental eyefluke
Freshwater molluscs of Cuba and their Philopthalmus gralli (Mathis & Ledger, 1910), in
conservation status". Tropical Conservation Science commercially reared ostriches (Struthio camelus) in
3(2): 190-199. HTM, PDF. Zimbabwe". Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary
[14] Vargas M., Gomez J. & Perera G. (1991). 72:
Research 72 203-206.
"Geographic expansion of Marisa cornuarietis and [26] Michelson E. (1992). "Thiara granifera: a victim of
Tarebia granifera in the Dominican Replublic". J. 25:
authoritarianism?" Malacological Review 25 67-71.
Med. & Appl. Malacol. 3: 69-72. [27] Samadi S., Balzan C., Delay B. & Pointier J.-P. (1997).
[15] ^ Prentice M. A. (1983). "Displacement of "Local distribution and abundance of thiarid snails
Biomphalaria glabrata by the snail Thiara granifera in in recently colonized rivers from the Caribbean
field habitats in Santa Lucia, West Indies". Annals of 30:
area". Malacological Review 30 45-52.
77:
Tropical Medicine and Parasitology 77 51-59. PubMed.
[16] Pointier J. P., Samadi S., Jarne P. & Delay B.
(October 1998). "Introduction and spread of Thiara
Further reading
granifera (Lamarck, 1822) in Martinique, French • Butler J. M., Ferguson F. F., Palmer J. R. & Jobin W. R.
West Indies". Biodiversity and Conservation 7(10): (1980). "Displacement of a colony of Biomphalaria
1277-1290. doi:10.1023/A:1008887531605. glabrata by an invading population of Tarebia
[17] Benoît F. & Patrice D. (2006). "Metapopulation granifera in a small stream in Puerto Rico". Caribbean
Dynamics and Biological Invasions: A Spatially 16:
Journal of Science 16 73-79. PDF.
Explicit Model Applied to a Freshwater Snail". The • Chaniotis B. N., Butler J. M., Ferguson F. F. & Jobin W.
American Naturalist 168 769–783. doi:10.1086/
168: R. (1980). "Thermal limits, desiccation tolerance, and
508669. humidity reactions of Thiara (Tarebia) granifera
[18] (Czech) Staňková H. (6 December 2006). mauiensis (Gastropoda: Thiaridae) host of the asiatic
"Sladkovodní plži překvapivě rychle kolonizují 16:
lung fluke disease". Caribbean Journal of Science 16
nové oblasti". on-line. 91-93. PDF.
[19] ^ Appleton C. C. & Nadasan D. S. (2002). "First • Ferguson et al. (1958). "Potential for Biological
report of Tarebia granifera (Lamarck, 1816) Control of Australorbis Glabratus, the Intermediate
(Gastropoda: Thiaridae) from Africa". Journal of Host of Puerto Rican Schistosomiasis". The American
Molluscan Studies 68
68(4): 399-402. doi:10.1093/ Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 7: 491-493.
mollus/68.4.399. • Miranda N., Perissinotto R. & Appleton C. (2010).
[20] ^ Yong M., Sanchez R., Perera G., Ferrer R. & "Salinity and temperature tolerance of the invasive
Amador O. (1987). "Seasonal studies of two freshwater gastropod Tarebia granifera". South African
populations of Tarebia granifera". Walkerana 2: 106(3/4): 7 pages. doi:10.4102/
Journal of Science 106
159-163. sajs.v106i3/4.156.
[21] ^ (Spanish) Ferrer López J. R., Perera de Puga G. & • Miranda N. A. F., Perissinotto R. & Appleton C. C.
Yong Cong M. (1989). "Estudio de la morfometría (2011). "Population Structure of an Invasive
de los 4 poblaciones de Tarebia granifera en Parthenogenetic Gastropod in Coastal Lakes and
condiciones de laboratorio". Revista Cubana de Estuaries of Northern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa".
Medicina Tropical 43 26-30.
43: PLoS ONE 6(8): e24337. doi:10.1371/
[22] Chaniotis B. N., Butler J. M., Ferguson F. F. & Jobin journal.pone.0024337.
W. R. (1980). "Presence of males in Puerto Rican
Thiara (Tarebia) granifera (Gastropoda: Thiaridae), a
snail thought to be parthenogenetic". Caribbean
External links
16:
Journal of Science 16 95-97. PDF.
[23] ^ W.H.O. (1981). "Data sheet on the biological
control agent Thiara granifera (Lamarck)". World
Health Organization, Geneva, VBC/BCDS/81.17.
[24] Watson J. M. (1960). Medical Helminthology. 1-487.
Baillière Tindall & Cox, London.
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Tarebia granifera
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